MINOT — No scissors were used at Saturday's ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the town's new walking trails. Rather, on Candace Gilpatric's call, a tightly bunched pack of about 10 under-10-year-olds burst through blue tape strung across the trail head down by the parking lot for the town's new ball fields.
Candace Gilpatric, left, her mother, Connie Benwitz, mother-in-law, Hester Gilpatric, 3-year-old son Jack and father-in-law David Gilpatric, all of Minot, walk along the "Kids' Way Trail" during the town of Minot recreational trails opening celebration on Saturday. Candace Gilpatric and Lisa Cesare, not pictured, worked on establishing the 2-mile trail system over the past four years as volunteer members of the Minot Recreation Committee.
Gracie Pray, 5, pulls her wagon along the "Athletic Way Trail" during the town of Minot recreational trails opening celebration on Saturday. Pray is a kindergarten student at Minot Consolidated School.
Students at Minot Consolidated School came up with the names for each of the nine trails in the town of Minot recreational trail system.
Three-year-old Jack Gilpatric broke from the pack, ready to sprint the 1.5-mile loop, but, finding himself without company, did an about-face and waited at the trail bend as the slower mass of 40 or so walkers caught up.
Walkers of all shapes and sizes, Jack perhaps being the youngest to walk all the way, while Isaac Sullivan, at a year and a half — and mostly perched in a backpack — was doubtless the youngest out in the brisk air.
Hester Gilpatric, at 79 and Jack's grandmother, could lay claim to being the eldest on the trails.
Third-grader Isabella Pray rode her two-wheeler and announced, eating a hot dog served at the fire station half way around the loop, that she “found a piece of a beehive by the side of the trail.”
Her sister Gracie, a kindergartner, pulled her wagon — her rubber ducky “Yellowee” along for the ride.
There were also, all on leashes, four dogs: a long-haired dachshund, a short-haired dachshund, “Violet” — about the same size, but black and white and bouncy — and “Jake,” black and three times bigger than the others, all put together.
“None of this would be possible if it wasn't for volunteers,” Candace Gilpatric said, recalling how, at the March 2004 town meeting, voters established the town's Recreation Committee.
Six years later, Gilpatric pointed out, the town has three new athletic fields and 2-plus miles of handicapped-accessible walking trails.
“It is only fitting we celebrate our great trails on Make a Difference Day!” she said.
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