Winnebago Water Trail Designation Set for June 13

Join fellow paddlers for a community float down the Winnebago River from Ambroson Park near Leland to Pammel park in Forest City. You can bring your own canoe or rent a kayak from CrawDaddy's for $10. CrawDaddy's phone number is 319-352-9129 and five dollars of that rental fee will be donated back to the Forest City Streamkeepers. The float will begin at 2:00 PM and should last about 2 hours.

Beginning at 4:00 PM, there will be music and a bonfire at Pammel Park. You are also invited to bring along your bike and enjoy the Hynes Spur Bike Trail, play a game of frisbee golf or some other outdoor game, and pack a picnic supper to enjoy at the park.

At 7:00 PM, there will be an official ribbon-cutting to dedicate the Winnebago River Water Trail! We hope you can join us for this day of outdoor fun in Forest City!

The 27-mile Winnebago Water Trail will be dedicated at 7 p.m., June 13, by the Winnebago County Conservation Board and the Iowa DNR. The water trail runs from Dahle Park just northwest of Lake Mills to Pammel Park in Forest City.

Paddlers will gather at 2 p.m. at the Ambroson Recreation Area, in Leland, and paddle 7 miles of the trail ending at Pammel Park. Pre-registration is required for this paddle event.

After the paddle, a bonfire, music, games and bike riding on the trails will take place at Pammel Park, in Forest City. Pack a picnic supper and take part in disc golf, horse shoes and other fun activities. The ceremony and dedication of the water trail will be at 7 p.m. in the park.

"The Winnebago's headwaters is in Winnebago County, and it will make a superb water trail for solitude and wildlife viewing experiences," said Nate Hoogeveen, director of River Programs for the Iowa DNR. "This is the first water trail we will designate that uses entirely local funds. We're happy to see the Forest City community touting all its virtues, and their connection of cycling and paddling sets an example I expect others will emulate."

Director of Winnebago Conservation, Robert Schwartz and Hoogeveen will be a few of the speakers that will help dedicate Iowa's newest water trail. For more information and to pre-register for the paddle portion of the event, visit http://www.winnebagoccb.com/

Come join us as we dedicate the new Winnebago River Trail!