Donors of Trout Run Trail art works recognized

TOW member John Hjelle speaks to a crowd at the Fish Hatchery

Ceremonies were held Sunday to recognize the help of the Kent & Jill Kleckner and David & Kathy Bakken families for public art pieces along the Trout Run Trail.

The Kleckners donated money for the tile mural put up in front of the DNR TRout Hatchery.  The Bakkens donated money for Doug Freeman's "Woman with birds" sculpture along Dug Road.

Trails of Winneshiek member John Hjelle recalled that Decorah officials spoke with the Vision Iowa Board and told the board "We're running out of things to name."  The board suggested spending one percent of the cost of the overall project to add public art to the trail.  Hjelle says Decorah mayor Don Arendt then suggested that the Vision Iowa Board "round up" its additional grant to $100,000.  The board agreed--and the money was used to attract local donations for the artwork

The Bakken family donated money for Doug Freeman's statue

The Kleckner family donated money for Dean Schwartz's tile sign

Schwartz spoke at Sunday's ceremony