Loop the Lake: Neenah, Menasha await trail opening

NEENAH - Enthusiasm for the opening of the $3.5 million Loop the Lake recreational trail is on the rise as spring weather returns to the Fox Cities.

Mike Kading, Neenah's director of parks and recreation, said he's noticed an eagerness in the community.

"People are getting more excited about it than they were in November and December," Kading told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. "There's a sense of excitement that's brewing."

The mood is similar in Menasha.

"The buzz is positive," said Brian Tungate, Menasha's director of parks and recreation. "There's a lot of people driving up and looking at the bridges. They are curious about where they are and what they look like."

The construction of the bridges — one across the Neenah channel and one across the Menasha channel of the Fox River — started in October and is progressing ahead of schedule. The grand opening of the bridges will be held June 23, but officials expect they will be open for use before then.

"We estimate that the (Menasha) bridge is about two-thirds done right now," Tungate said. "They're at least a month ahead of schedule, which is good news."

RELATED: Loop the Lake maintenance costs will be joint responsibility

RELATED: Neenah, Menasha proceed with rec trail

The bridges, along with additional signage on Doty Island, will complete a 5K trail loop around the southern half of Little Lake Butte des Morts.

A majority of the loop is already in use. It includes the Fox Cities Trestle Trail in Menasha and Fox Crossing and paved paths through Arrowhead and Herb and Dolly Smith parks in Neenah.

The June 23 grand opening of the loop will held at Arrowhead Park and will begin at 9 a.m. with comments from officials, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A noncompetitive 5K run/walk called the Community First Cut & Run will start at 9:30 a.m. and proceed counterclockwise along the trail.

"Bring your strollers, bring your dogs, bring your family and join us to take that loop around the lake," said Amy Barker, executive director of Future Neenah. "We'll have some celebratory things along the route."

Participants will receive a T-shirt. Registration information will be provided through Future Neenah's website: neenah.org.

Each new bridge will have a covered observation deck in the middle, similar to the Fox Cities Trestle Trail across Little Lake Butte des Morts. The initial design didn't call for a canopy, but Neenah and Menasha each added one along the way.

"It was collectively decided that it would be a good thing to match what the original trestle has," Tungate said.

Future Neenah and the Neenah Parks and Recreation Commission are considering suitable locations for temporary art along Loop the Lake.

Neenah and Menasha been working toward Loop the Lake since 2014. The trail is designed to promote health, recreation and tourism.

The money for the project consists of $1.1 million in private funds raised by Future Neenah, $325,000 from Neenah, $325,000 from Menasha, and $1.75 million from a matching state grant.