Summer Evening Chef's Table
INAUGURAL SIGNATURE FUNDRAISER FOR MT TRAILS FOUNDATION
A summer evening fundraiser was held on Thursday, July 13 at Rotary Park in Mequon. The event featured a 5-course meal with cocktail/beverage pairings, presented by exclusive chefs from the Southeastern Wisconsin area, followed by dancing and live music!
Tap the button below to learn more and view event photos!
3/23/23 UPDATE
We are moving forward! The MT Trails committee presented to the City of Mequon Committee of the Whole on 3/16/23 and the Joint Mequon-Thiensville Bike and Pedestrian Way Commission on 3/18/23 explaining MT Trails history, vision and proposed bike path along Highland Road to connect the Ozaukee Interurban Trail to Rotary Park in Mequon. It was favorably supported. Click here to see the presentation. As such, a dedication agreement between the City of Mequon and MT Trails Foundation is being drafted.
Based on this progress to date, we are planning for final Bike/Pedestrian path design to be completed this Summer/Fall, with construction possibly starting as early as Summer 2024.
MISSION
The path is designed to be top quality, lasting 20 years. The 10 foot wide path has a 12 inch base of 1 ¼” aggregate base course, topped with 3” of HMA (Hot Mix Asphalt) Pavement 4LT 58-28S. The 2 ft shoulders will have the same 12 inch base with limestone screenings. So the final path will be 14 feet wide.
IN THE NEWS
Community-Wide Off-Road Bike Trail Informational Events
MTCF partnered with the MT Trails Foundation to promote community-wide off-road bike and pedestrian paths.
Our Past Events
MT Trails Informational Tent at Lion's Club Applefest
October 2, 2022
Pictured above, Jim and Julie Hall of Mequon stop by the MT Trails Foundation tent at the Lion’s Club Applefest event at Village Park on October 2, 2022.
Lori Lorenz and Jim Ott, MTCF representatives run the booth and raffles
Taste of Mequon
September 10, 2022
MT Trails Foundation, in conjunction with MTCF, visited with residents in the community to spread the word about their vision for connecting off the road bike/pedestrian paths at their tent during the Taste of Mequon on September 10th. Many excited residents completed surveys to help guide our next projects and to offer to help on committees to make this happen. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our tent!
THE STORY
In Mid January 2021, Ayers Associates was contracted to design a preferred alignment plan for the proposed path, which was completed in April 2021.
Once it was determined the path would be feasible and received favorable feedback from homeowners the next steps were to obtain a topographical survey, wetland delineations and a survey. This was completed at the end of July 2021 and included the north side for the complete 1 ½ miles from Rotary Park to the OIT and also the south side from Green Bay Road to OIT to compare costs, since the utility poles switched to the north side of the road at that point after green bay road.
In August 2021 Ayers Associates was contracted to do a CADD draft and a 60% set of plans and profile sheets which identified the look and cost of the path and liens needed. This was received in early September 2021 and more detail talks were held with the landowners along the path. From those talks, it was determined to also perform a survey, wetland delineation and CADD draft and 60% set of plans for the remaining south side of Highland Road. Over $75,000 has been raised, primarily by the members of our committee, to fund these costs to date.
In January, 2022, the MT Trails Foundation applied for a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) federal grant and received notification in August that it was accepted for $988,000. Private community funding of $75,000 has been raised thru September 2022, with more coming in every day. All during the summer and fall of 2022 the MT Trails committee members had the MT Trails pop up informational tent around the community explaining the project. It is anticipated $450,000 will still be needed from the community to complete the project. This is just $45 from every household in the Mequon/Thiensville community to get this first phase off the ground!
All donations should be made through the Mequon Community Foundation designated to the Bike Path.
WAYS TO GIVE
Donations are accepted through our website and via mail. We also can accept gifts of appreciated stock.
Tap the LEARN MORE button below for more information about donating, or tap the DONATE NOW button to proceed directly to our online donation form and select "Bike Paths" in the dropdown menu for Area of Support.
About the Ozaukee Interurban Trail
A continuation from the Oak Leaf that follows an old railroad line from Milwaukee to Sheboygan through Ozaukee County. At the end, if the 30 miles aren’t enough for your bike-loving booty, you can carry on to the Sheboygan Interurban Trail. The proposed 1 ½ mile Highland Spur will take you east to the lovely Rotary Park.
As of Sept 2022, both the north and south side are being analyzed to determine the best route for the path.
TOTAL COSTS
The Highland Bike Path Project consists of two phases.
Phase I will span from Rotary Park to Cedarburg Road. Phase II, if decided to do in the future, will consist of 310 feet of boardwalks and bridges going over Pigeon Creek. In the meantime, Phase I path users will use the existing paved walk onto a very wide bridge that connects with the interurban trail from Cedarburg Road to the OIT.
Updated path costs as of 7/2022
| Construction of Path | |
| $1,060,000 | Paving boardwalks and construction |
| $106,000 | Engineering (10%) |
| $158,000 | Contingency |
| $1,324,000 | Total Construction Cost of Path |
| Signal Beacon | |
| $15,000 | LED lighted signal beacon with push button crosswalk |
| Endowment | |
| $100,000 | Covers ongoing maintenance and snow removal |
| Engineering Preliminary Work by Ayers Associates |
INCLUDES: Land architect preferred alignment plan Topographical survey estimate Wetland delineations CAD drafting of a 60% set of plan and profile sheets |
| $74,000 | Total Engineering Preliminary Work Incurred |
| $1,513,000 | TOTAL FUNDS NEEDED TO COMPLETE PHASE I |
WHY COMPLETE THE PATH, AND WHO BENEFITS?
The scenic trails in the Mequon/Thiensville area are well loved by residents and visitors for their multiple healthy recreation uses (bicycling, walking, running, roller blading, etc.) and provision of a safe transportation network to adjacent communities.Lisa Sheridan, Director of Client Operations, Gentian Financial
"Rotary Park is one of the many gems in our community. As a parent of small children, accessing our community on foot or on bicycles is important to keep our kids safe and to encourage healthy lifestyles for generations to come. An off road path connecting the Ozaukee Interurban Trail and Rotary Park would not only provide a safe route for families to access Rotary Park, but would also connect people in North Mequon to the Town Center District and Thiensville businesses."
Sam Azinger, Resident/Rotarian, chair of Chair-Mequon Thiensville Biking/Pedestrian Joint Commission and President of Rotary Club of Thiensville/Mequon
"For decades Gathering on the Green has put on our flagship event in Rotary Park. The park is a jewel in our community and we love showing it off to those who come to our events. The possibility of a bike path that would connect Rotary Park to the Ozaukee Interurban Trail is a dream come true. It would enable many more people to safely discover and explore the fantastic asset of our park."
Board of Directors, Gathering on the Green
"Christ Alone Lutheran School sees the Ozaukee Interurban Trail as an asset for teaching our students about healthy living. Because it is located on the western edge of our property, we have easy access to it. We use the trail annually for our Run/Walk benefiting Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We see the potential of using the trail for teaching about biking. Having the trail connect to Rotary Park would give a great destination and turn around point for our trips."
Paul Berger, Principal, Christ Alone Lutheran School in Thiensville
"The Police Department supports the creation of defining a space for bicyclists to ride and pedestrians to walk, to foster a safer environment for the traveling motorists and bicycles."
Mequon Police Chief Pryor
"Something additional like this path would definitely lure our cross country runners over there!"
Jay Fuller, Head Coach, Homestead Highlanders Cross Country
Interested in supporting this project?
GET INVOLVED!
We encourage all citizens that are passionate about creating safe bike and pedestrian paths around our community to help us with this effort. To get involved or to ask specific questions email info@mtcfgives.org or call 262-238-2803. Your message will be relayed to the bike committee.
DONATE!
Tap the LEARN MORE button below for more information about donating, or tap the DONATE NOW button to proceed directly to our online donation form and select "Bike Paths" in the dropdown menu for Area of Support.