OTTUMWA —
There are 679 total acres of park land in Ottumwa.
Unfortunately, a good portion of that total number is underutilized by residents and those visiting our community.
The parks are beautiful, green areas where families can picnic, play, host reunions and events and enjoy what Mother Nature has to provide.
Among those green spaces is Memorial Park, situated between Jefferson and Elm. Beautiful trees, a little pond, play areas, the park is fairly hilly in its terrain.
So it makes perfect sense that volunteers, with the support of the city, want to create a mountain bike trail at the park.
What a great idea and one that deserves the support of all Ottumwans.
The project will not cost the city any money and the volunteers will go through the park, clearing weeds and small brush to help establish a pathway for the bicyclists.
And officials said the bike trail should not interfere with disc golfing and the seasonal deer hunting that occurs in the park.
More importantly, this idea is a way to reach out to potential new visitors and another way to improve upon the quality of life here in Ottumwa.
Cities are not required to provide entertainment and other activities for its citizens, both young and old. But communities know that adding amenities, like a mountain bike trail, only helps to make the town more attractive to residents and visitors.
We look forward to seeing how the trail will be developed this summer and fall and hope Ottumwans will take advantage of it when it opens next year.
Opinion
June 26, 2012
Bike trail is a good idea
Our Opinion
- Opinion
-
- Damage caps at work After several days of eyewitness testimony and evidence, a dedicated Iowa jury determined that the 32 mentally disabled men who were mistreaded, abused and from whom wages and government benefits were taken by Henry's Turkey Service and its employees
- Participating in democracy important for young people The League of Women Voters of Ottumwa would like to thank the Wapello County Auditor's office and Ottumwa High School Principal Mark Hanson for working with the League to ensure that every graduating senior at OHS receives an Iowa Voter Registration
- The other side 
to foster care Thank you for your recent story on foster care. I am a former foster child that was in the system for 20 years and in my experience, foster care has two sides. There is the side you portrayed, but the other side if not a bed of roses. I lived in five
- Shaul Cemetery is on the mend This letter is in response to the recent letter about Shaul Cemetery. I am not writing this to criticize, but rather to hopefully explain some of the problems that not only Shaul, but many of our cemeteries, have recently had. My husband, David, and
- In Flanders Field In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
- Relax ... no need to worry To all you who are weeping, wailing and gnashing your teeth over Obama: Relax! If we survived eight years of George W. Bush, we will also survive eight years of Obama. Also, quit stewing about your guns. Nobody is trying to take away your guns. The w
- Thank you to Eldon Editor's note: The following is a copy of the letter sent to the Bev Sloan, Beth "The Pie Lady" Howard and the community of Eldon from the Newtown Parent Connection, Inc., in Newtown, Conn. On behalf of the Newtown Parent Connection, Inc., I would li
- Memories The names so familiar. The faces so easily recalled. Those people who were part of my life, growing up in a small town. My daughter wanders through the cemetery, pointing out names, commenting on the many beautiful stones that mark that small rural p
- Ask for salvation now Ask for salvation now Matthew, Mark and John were eyewitnesses of Jesus -- they wrote what they learned! Read Matthew 10:28. There is a hell! Pray to God! Ask for salvation! Ronald S. Davis Ottumwa Spend money on park To the city council members
- Spend some money on the park To the city council members, park director and the mayor: Where does the money go that they took in this year? They need to spend some of the money to fix up the park. Fill some of the holes in the park. Also, they need to cut some limbs from the tre
- More Opinion Headlines
