New trail to open for walkers, joggers, cyclists and skaters

4:35 p.m., July 22, 2003--A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the James F. Hall Trail, named in honor of the late director of Parks and Recreation in Newark, will take place from 3:30-7 p.m., Wednesday, July 23, at Kells Park, on Kells Avenue in Newark. The rain date is July 24.

The 1.76-mile, paved trail with an adjacent unpaved path of gravel and grass, provides a safe, scenic way to travel across Newark without being on a road. It is designed to accommodate walkers, joggers, bicyclists and in-line skaters and extends from Bradford Lane in Devon to the Delaware Technology Park, across from the College Square Shopping Center.

Representatives from the state of Delaware, city of Newark and UD will be on hand for the event. After the ceremony, refreshments will be served, and there will be unicycle demonstrations, bicycle emergency equipment demonstrations, free bike rentals, skate adjustments and minor bike repairs available and “Ask the Expert” representatives who will give advice on running, skating and biking. Nationally certified effective-cycling instructors will lead escorted bike tours, and Pennoni Associates will be on hand to answer questions about the trail. Information on future trail planning also will be available.

Seven years in the making, the multi-use trail is a project of the Newark Bike Committee in collaboration with Newark, DELDOT, DNREC, UD, the Wilmington Area Planning Council and interested citizens. The Newark Bike Committee is chaired by Willett Kempton, associate professor of marine studies. Rich Armitage, director of Government Relations at UD, also serves on the committee.

For more information, call the Newark Parks and Recreation Department at 366-7060. In case of inclement weather, call the Leisure Time Hotline at 366-7147.

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