Forward Janesville - TheReport -Third Quarter 2022

When forging a connection, sometimes intangible instruments are the most powerful tools in the toolbox. A recent pavement project in Rock County has bound two communities to a network of physical trails, and an even greater network of passionate people and organizations. “What is the best tool in our toolbox? I say it’s the soft skills,” said Dennis James, coordinator of Rock County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. The pavement of 6.6 miles of the Peace Trail connecting Janesville’s Rockport Park and Beloit’s Big Hill Park is part of a decades-long vision to bolster Janesville’s trail system. This vision helped Janesville become the city with the most miles of Ice Age Trail in the state and solidify the community as Wisconsin’s Great Outside. “I can’t emphasize enough the partnership between the Rock Trail Coalition, the Rock County Parks Department and the City of Janesville Parks Department in getting these trails built and finally paved,” said Dean Paynter, leader of the Rock Trail Coalition. Partnerships were essential in making the vision come to life. “John Traynor, the Rock County Parks Director led the paving project – a subject he has many years of experience in. Also, Cullen Slapak, Janesville Parks Director, coordinating and getting the Janesville portion of the trail done at the same time,” Paynter said. “At Rock Trail Coalition we are advocates and fundraisers, but the professionals get the work done and they deserve a lot of credit.” Making it happen Of the $460,000 needed to complete the project, $237,000 was raised in donations alone– a testament to how strongly the community believed in its value. That passion from donors and volunteers are key examples of those aforementioned soft skills. For Mick Gilbertson, his contribution to the trail is personal. "The Blain-Gilbertson Family was happy to help with the Rock Trail Coalition with the improvements along the Peace Trail bike path,” Gilbertson said. “Our family had roots to a family farm along Duggan Road and this was always a special area to our family. The paved bike trail provides a great link to continue the community's bike trails between Janesville and Beloit." The Blain-Gilbertson family made a generous financial donation to help make the project a reality. The local Ice Age Trail Alliance chapter alone made a call out to 400- 500 people asking for donations. Many of the alliance’s volunteers made significant impacts on the project, James said. “The more we can cooperate, support and work together, the more we are all aware of each other down the road,” James said. Peace Trail pavement project leads to greater community connections By Ashley McCallum 6 • W W W . F O R W A R D J A N E S V I L L E . C O M Photo credit: Lindsay Cole Photo credit: Lindsay Cole