New Green Circle kiosk highlights trail history

Wausau Pilot & Review

The newest Green Circle Trail kiosk recognizes the key founders and supporters of the trail and highlights its history. It is located in Pfiffner Pioneer Park, where the 27-mile trail started.

The trail was first envisioned by John Jury, who was Stevens Point Park Board president in the 1980s. He suggested a trail between Pfiffner and Bukolt parks as a gift to the community for the city’s 125th birthday celebration in 1983. That segment was paved in 1984. “The community loved it – and wanted more,” Jury noted at the kiosk dedication Sept. 27.

As part of a community recreation planning session, Jury used maps of public and private lands to identify a possible corridor encircling the Stevens Point area. Today’s trail mostly follows this route.

A group of active community volunteers began discussing a “passive exercise” trail in 1989. They included Dan Trainer, retired dean of the College of Natural Resources at UW-Stevens Point; George Rogers, retired editor of the Stevens Point Journal; Tom Schrader, Stevens Point parks director; Roy Menzel, public relations professional; Jerry Ernst, Portage County parks director, and later his successor, Gary Speckmann; and Bill Werner, who was president of both Bank One and the Chamber of Commerce. They met nearly every week for seven years to plan and develop the trail.

Volunteers worked to create a green corridor along the Wisconsin and Plover rivers through parks, public lands and easements on private lands. Donated labor and support from area municipalities, state and federal grants, businesses and many individuals were key to creating the trail. Jury thanked those early donors for supporting a vision.

A 22-mile Green Circle Trail opened on June 1, 1996. The goal continues to have a safe, green corridor through the area’s natural beauty and off streets, Jury noted.

The new kiosk outlines this history. It includes quotes from the founders and the list of original donors and volunteers. A generous donation from Karen and the late David Henneghan made construction possible.

The Green Circle Trail is a proud example of cooperation and community support, said Nick Schultz, Green Circle Board volunteer. This continues today as annual donations are essential for maintenance and construction.

For more information about the trail, visit greencircletrail.org.