Rotary Walking Path closer to completion

Alex Hargrave
Posted 7/17/20

Approximately 30 community members gathered for the groundbreaking and ribbon cutting of the Rotary Walking Path in Torrington on July 13.

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Rotary Walking Path closer to completion

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TORRINGTON – Approximately 30 community members gathered for the groundbreaking and ribbon cutting of the Rotary Walking Path in Torrington on July 13. 

The path is a project started by Torrington Rotary Club past president Tim Pieper, D.D.S., when he began his term in 2018. Its aim is to encourage community members to participate in activities that help them live a healthier lifestyle.

“If we could get a three to five mile path put together, that’d be great for people who want to bicycle or run, to be out of the traffic,” Pieper said.

The groundbreaking and ribbon cutting event that brought speakers and bagged lunches for guests Monday afternoon was held at the latest addition to the path, on East 22nd Avenue. Pieper said it is difficult to estimate when the walking path might be finished, as they are waiting on federal and state grants. In his address to the crowd, he said the cost for the project once completed will be between three and five million dollars. 

“That’s our biggest hold up, is getting the money that we need,” Pieper said.

The Torrington Rotary Club received a $5,000 grant from the Goshen County Economic Development’s Progress Program, which is funded by a 1/4-cent sales tax for economic development projects. 

“This was a great project to be involved with and exactly what the Progress Program is to be used for,” Sondra Dent, marketing director for GCEDC, said. “The Progress Program is intended to assist communities and non-profit organizations working to create, improve and strengthen the quality of life by promoting recreational, health and fitness activities in Goshen County.”

Both Pieper and Mayor Randy Adams said help from the community will be essential in completing the project. 

“At this groundbreaking event, we’re asking everyone in the community to become involved,” Pieper said. “It could be helping us financially, physically, or just having connections that will help get this project completed.”

“This walking path is a great example of public-private partnerships,” Adams told community members. “There’s no way the City of Torrington would’ve done this by themselves. It’s money and this year there just isn’t money. You put the two together, they provide the money, we provide some expertise and together we have projects completed.”

Pieper described the trail as a “dream” of the Torrington Rotary Club. That dream was closer to being realized once the club’s current President, Bob Taylor, cut a bright red ribbon using oversized wooden scissors, a ceremony that tends to symbolize a new beginning.

Once completed, the path will “circle the city,” starting and ending at Torrington High School and going as far as the North Platte River, which Pieper called “our greatest natural resource.

“By the end of this year we’re hoping to be close to the river,” Pieper said.

After individually thanking those who contributed labor and funds toward the project, Adams reminisced about Pieper’s initial proposal of the multi-million dollar project. 

“I probably grinned, if not laughed, but it is possible to do these things together,” Adams said. “So if the two of us work together and everyone will combine their efforts also, we’ll get this done.”