Workers close loop on Veterans Park Walking Trail

June 15, 2021 at 9:17 a.m.

by Michael Eckels

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Workers use trowels to smooth out freshly poured concrete on the corner connecting the old track to the walking trail near Pat Street June 9 at Decatur's Veterans Park. With the concrete work completed the loop was closed on the new walking trail.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Workers use trowels to smooth out freshly poured concrete on the corner connecting the old track to the walking trail near Pat Street June 9 at Decatur's Veterans Park. With the concrete work completed the loop was closed on the new walking trail.

DECATUR -- After six years and countless hours of grant writing, planning and execution, the Veterans Park Walking Trail is now a reality as the last bit of concrete was poured June 9 to complete the .71 mile loop.

The southeast section of the trail that tied into the old track near the Veterans Memorial was the final piece of the puzzle to be completed. It took construction crews most of the day to pour new concrete on the remaining forms along the trail. By late afternoon, the last bit of concrete was poured, smoothed out and set to dry.

The only work left to do on the new trail is the approval and execution of change order number two which involves the removal of the solid asphalt surface from the track and replacing it with concrete.

Some Decatur residents did not wait for the completion of the loop. Late Wednesday morning several people were walking along the western end of the trail near the ball fields. A mother and her young son were riding bicycles along that same route.

The city of Decatur is expecting to have the entire project open and ready for area residents to enjoy by Decatur Barbecue time on Aug. 7.

Note: The loop is only .71 miles long. One lap around the track equals .24 miles long. To complete a mile, users need to complete one circuit around the loop and one and a quarter laps around the track.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS While a pair of workers level out freshly poured concrete, two others use a long hose to fill between the forms June 9 at Veterans Park in Decatur. The walking trail loop was competed later in the afternoon.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS While a pair of workers level out freshly poured concrete, two others use a long hose to fill between the forms June 9 at Veterans Park in Decatur. The walking trail loop was competed later in the afternoon.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A worker (behind ladder on the left) regulates the flow of concrete into a pumper unit at Veterans Park in Decatur June 9. Wet concrete was pumped out of the hopper into a hose leading to an open section of the new walking trail.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A worker (behind ladder on the left) regulates the flow of concrete into a pumper unit at Veterans Park in Decatur June 9. Wet concrete was pumped out of the hopper into a hose leading to an open section of the new walking trail.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A worker using a long handle trowel smooths out newly poured concrete on a section of the Veterans Park Walking Trail June 9 in Decatur. This particular section was once part of the old track which was near the Veterans Memorial at the park.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A worker using a long handle trowel smooths out newly poured concrete on a section of the Veterans Park Walking Trail June 9 in Decatur. This particular section was once part of the old track which was near the Veterans Memorial at the park.