Dedication of TREC Nature Park

(THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE TREC NATURE PARK RIBBON CUTTING: EFFINGHAM COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT AND CEO LUCINDA HART, EFFINGHAM CITY COMMISSIONER AND TREC BOARD MEMBER LARRY MICENHEIMER, EFFINGHAM COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN JOSH DOUTHIT, TREC BOARD MEMBERS ERIC ZELLER AND BILL AUSTIN, SIMON MILLER WHO CUT THE RIBBON, TREC BOARD MEMBERS ANNE MARIE BRUMMER AND ANDY VOGT, EFFINGHAM PARK BOARD CHAIRMAN RUSS SEHY, AND TREC BOARD PRESIDENT FRANK BRUMMER)

The TREC Nature Park is now open for walking, hiking, bicycling, swimming and other fun and adventurous activities.

The Nature Park is near Ryan's Crossing Bridge along the trail, which is just west and northwest of Effingham. It is a long-time goal of TREC Board President Frank Brummer

The founder of Farmweld in Teutopolis, Brummer has carried the torch for the TREC Trail for a number of years. An active outdoorsman, Brummer returned to Effingham for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the Nature Park before heading for a hike on the Appalachian Trail. 

Brummer was pleased with a "big turnout" and was pleased with the number of kids playing out on the sandbar at the Nature Park. 

(SOME OF THOSE GATHERED FOR THE TREC NATURE PARK RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY...thanks to Alex Hoedebecke Photography and Visit Effingham for the photos)

Another half-mile stretch of trail has been built with another half-mile section to go to finish a two-mile loop of the trail from any trailhead along the route.

The next goal is to come up with funds to match a $200,000 grant offered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.