About 200 bicycle riders turned out Saturday for the Mayor’s Ride for Fitness which marked the official opening of the newly refurbished bike trail at Westgate Park.
The event, led by Mayor Mike Schmitz, a triathlon competitor, coincided with National Bike Month.
“It’s exciting to live in a community that cares about fitness and family,” Schmitz said, welcoming bicyclists of all ages.
Hannah Dean of LivingWell led participants on a series of warm-up exercises and stretches prior to the start of the event, which was followed with a Zumba demonstration.
Shortly before 10 a.m., participants were sent along the paved 3.3-mile trail in groups of 20. Most took a leisurely pace.
Faye Kelly lives near the trail, and rides it several times a week. She is familiar with the curves and hills and thought a group ride might be fun.
“I just wanted to participate,” said Kelly. “I live on the corner and this is where the action is.”
Kelly said she normally rides in the early morning when it is cooler. Temperatures were already reaching the mid-80s by mid-morning Saturday.
Trail upgrades began last year, but due to rainy weather conditions, the new surface for the walking portion of the trail has yet to be completed. Assistant Leisure Services Director Kim Meeker said the $350,000 project should be finished in June.
“We’ve done all the trail beds,” Meeker said, “so it should all be done over the next month. We just need to put down the soil additive.”
Meeker said mile marker signs will also be put down in the coming weeks. The trail officially starts across the road from Kiwanis Park on Whatley Drive.
Since the trail renovation project has divided the walking and biking portions for most of the trail, Meeker said usage has increased.
“Before we were having 200 to 250 users daily. We are at around 600 bikers and walkers a day now,” he said. “It is so much more popular with the improvements.”
Cindy Bradshaw of Newton said this was her first time to ride the trail. She brought her granddaughter, Jessi Hughes, 8, along for the ride.
“We enjoy bike riding,” Bradshaw said. “We live on a dead-end, paved road that’s great for riding.”
Jessi, who lives in Wicksburg, only recently learned to ride, Bradshaw said, and received a new bicycle for making good grades in school.
“This is something we can do together,” Bradshaw said.
Schmitz said it was good to see so many people turn out for the event, which was sponsored by Southeast Alabama Medical Center, WTVY and Dothan Cycle & Fitness.
Other city officials in attendance included Commissioners Taylor Barbaree and John Craig and City Manager Mike West, along with a number of Leisure Services staff, police and firemen.
Funding for the new trail came from the Wiregrass Foundation and the Recreation Trails Program of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The city provided a $25,000 match.
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