The Labor Day Weekend visit to Decorah that sent the Trout Run Trail on its way

Supporters of the Trout Run Trail have been working since 1994 to make the trail a reality.  But it was a Decorah native's return visit to Decorah during the Labor Day Weekend in 2007 that pushed trail organizers into developing the trail in its present form.

Andy Anderson grew up in Decorah and his parents still live here.  On Sunday afternoon during the dedication ceremony for the Trout Run Trail, Anderson recalled meeting with Mike Huinker and other supporters of the trail during one of Anderson's visits back home.  When Huinker told Anderson his vision was for a recreational trail that completed a loop around the city, Anderson encouraged Decorah officials to apply for Vision Iowa funding.  The result was a $1.6 million state grant in support of the trail.

But Anderson says it was the work of local organizers that brought to a reality what Anderson terms "this special, special project."  He says communities can't wait for Des Moines to make something happen--they need to form partnerships that can make a project happen.