Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails Council advocates to get people outdoors

The vision of the Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails Council is “a walk-able and bike-able Oneida County.” The 501(c)3 organization was created in 2004 through a merger of Oneida Trails and Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails. The mission, in part, is to education the public about health and the physical activity, safety and economic benefits of trails.

“Walkable and bikeable communities improve the quality of life for everyone,” said Jackie Cody of the trails council. Her goal, and that of the organization, is to create a system of connected trails so trail users could enjoy a better experience in Oneida County. She said the goal was to connect Rhinelander to the rest of the county, and Oneida County trails to trails in other counties, too. 

The trails council is affiliated with the Oneida County Health Department and relies on the guidance of a seven member board of directors. The organization is funded completely through donations it receives as a product of their annual mailing. 

While the Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails Council does not build trails themselves, they do advocate for trails and work with other nonprofit organizations such as the Rhinelander Area Silent Sports Association (RASTA) and towns such as Lake Tomahawk. 

The organization was involved when the town of Lake Tomahawk built the trail connection to the Clear Lake Trails. Cody said her group fundraised with the town to get those trails completed. 

The biking and walking trails council also distributes trail maps through retail outlets as well as health clinics. They also have maps available on their website.

“Our maps don’t just encourage walking and biking, but paddling and birding — it’s anything where we can get people outside, and this encourages tourist of course, but also residents, to get outside and be active,” Cody said.

The group has also been involved with the Newbold Bike Trail and their own walking trail, Rookery Run. They have also been involved in helping with signage for both on and off road biking trails in Pelican, Crescent, Pine Lake, Newbold, Lake Tomahawk, and within the city of Rhinelander.

Donations have allowed the group to add benches and picnic tables to the Hanson Lake Trail as well as the Long Lake Trail and to install nine bike repair stations, with the latest at the YMCA of the Northwoods in Rhinelander. Other benches have been installed in the towns of Newbold and Lake Tomahawk.

Cody said they also support Partners in Education. They provide bike helmets for all for all of the third graders who are involved in the bike rodeo. The council was also involved in Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA and has also contributed to sustainability there.

“We remain committed to biking and walking because we know Oneida County needs a connected trail system,” she said. “Financial support is needed to build the necessary infrastructure throughout the county. By developing that connected network, Oneida County could become a premier destination for walkers, bikers, birders and others.”

“I’d like to comment that the city of Rhinelander has been making progress along those lines of connectivity and putting in pathways,” said Pete Cody. Jackie Cody agreed that the city had been one of the best partners in putting in the trails and paths to connect parts of the city. She said in places that are biking and walking accessible, property values increase and more properties are sold as people are drawn to the area.

Jackie Cody said it was not just retirees that were looking for these amenities, but also young families.

“They are looking for places to push the baby buggy,” she said. “They are looking for places for their kids to play safely, they’re looking for sidewalks that connect them to the parks. This is what we need in order to move our county forward for more economic strength.” She said she hoped to see more elected officials at the county level who were like minded and thinking the same way the trail council was and were looking to move biking and walking forward in the county. 

Jackie Cody said that while monetary donations are always needed to keep moving forward, the board does also have one vacancy that the council is looking to fill. She said anyone interested in can learn more at their monthly meeting. To get involved and be kept abreast of those meeting times and dates, interested individuals can email [email protected]

For more information on the Oneida County Biking and Walking Trails Council, see their website at bikeoneida.com. To learn more about donating, board meetings or the possibility of filling the empty board seat, send an email to [email protected]. More information can also be found on their Facebook page. Contributions can be sent to PO Box 74, Rhinelander, WI 54501. Checks can be made out to OCBWTC.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].