November 20, 2003
From Doug Wicks and the RTI Board
To Friends of the River’s Edge Trail

Year end progress report
and a look forward to new trails in 2004

Dear Friend of River's Edge Trail,

In 2003 the long-awaited Giant Springs Road trail tunnel was completed, a new Rainbow Trailhead was built, the Ryan Trailhead was completed and a temporary trailhead was developed along Morony Dam Road. The Cochrane Dam Trail Crossing, linking north and south shore trails was enjoyed by hundreds of trail users this year. Engineering and design of several key trail segments has recently been completed. Trail maintenance projects were accelerated and the multi-year cleanup of coulees and lands in the north shore Conservation Easement was nearly completed.

With the help of trail donors like you, we were able to match funds with federal grants, add benches, tables, information kiosks, trees and signs, mobilize several hundred hours of Montana Conservation Corps crew time and to purchase tools and materials and rent equipment and organize the volunteers needed to accomplish many trail improvement and maintenance projects this year.
2004 promises to be the biggest construction year ever along the River’s Edge Trail. New trail segments between Montana Refining Co. and Black Eagle Memorial Island, the first phase of the Bay Drive Trail and a new full-service Morony Trailhead are all expected to be built. Iím asking for your help again to insure that we can bring these exciting trail segments to the public next year and move forward with plans to complete the cleanup along the north shore, begin an urban riverfront shoreline and shallows cleanup effort, begin implementing the Interpretive Program Plan and continue an aggressive trail maintenance program to keep the trail safe and enjoyable.

We work hard to stretch and leverage your year end donation with various grants, by encouraging and coordinating in-kind donations of materials and services and gifts for special projects, and by extensively using MCC and youth work crews, Scouts and other volunteers to maintain and enhance the trail.

We can only keep moving forward with your continued support. Your contribution will allow us to keep working hard to make our trail, riverfront greenway and open spaces special places that we can all enjoy and be proud of.

Happy Trails and Happy Holidays!

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River’s Edge Trail - 2003 Progress

Completed construction of the Giant Springs Road Trail Tunnel
Completed final design, contract documents for Phase 1, Bay Drive Trail
Completed Phase 2 of the Ryan Trailhead on the North Shore Trail
Completed fencing, turnstile and temporary Morony Trailhead
Designed and completed the Rainbow Trailhead on the North Shore Trail
Completed Phase 1 stabilization and repairs to the Ryan Stone Building
Wrote successful CTEP grant to fund design of Phase 2, Bay Drive Trail
Organized and staffed a successful 2003 Blues & Brews fundraiser
Worked with Great Falls Tribune to produce River's Edge Trail Map and Guide
With MCC, built and installed 3 new trailhead information kiosks
With MCC, continued extensive cleanup along North Shore conservation easement
Mulched and watered young trailside trees throughout the dry year
Assisted with River Corridor, Bike/ped Facilities and West Bank Park planning
Worked with PPL MT to open the Cochrane Dam Trail Crossings for 16 days
Completed final re-design of West Bank and Black Eagle Trail projects
Completed geotech work and initiated design for B. E. Island access road repairs
Organized 100s of hours of trail cleanup, weed control, maintenance projects
Assisted with Whitmore Ravine inventory, mapping and assessment
Seal coated 3 miles of trail, trail edge weed control on 7 miles of trail
Raised and matched donations with federal grants and special projects
Added first trailside sculpture, a wind-driven trout, near the Weissman Bridge

River’s Edge Trail - 2004 Goals

Complete construction of Phase 1 of the Bay Drive Trail
Complete construction of trail segments between the Refinery and B. E. Island
Add memorial shelters, benches, tables and trees to these new trail segments
Complete construction of upper and lower road access, parking at B. E. Island
Complete Morony Trailhead, linkages to North Shore and Sulphur Springs Trails
Complete design and secure construction funding for Phase 2, Bay Drive Trail
Complete entry towers, donor/interpretive panels, dedicate Weissman Bridge
Complete exterior painting of boxcar and caboose, add trees and landscaping
Work with PPL MT to continue public use of Cochrane Dam Trail Crossing
Complete trail realignment and cleanup on the south end of Cochrane Dam
Complete roadway signage to direct visitors to the 3 North Shore Trailheads
Work with Great Falls Tribune to produce 2004 edition of Trail Map and Guide
Plant new trees and vines for fences near WWTP on the West Bank Trail
Organize and staff a successful 2004 Blues & Brews trail fundraiser
Work with many partners to begin implementing Trail Interpretive Program Plan
Seal coat 3 more miles of trail, repaint center-line and cross-walk striping
Develop, print and distribute a pocket size fold-up River’s Edge Trail Map
Develop and install more permanent trail maps and information at kiosks
Select and install a second trailside sculpture or art work

Be sure and check out the 14 years and counting...