Bundle up in your favorite winter weather gear and support Ottumwa trail efforts.
The Wapello County Trails Council will host “Winter Coats on Parade,” a parade event on the south levee trail on Friday, December 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. The lighted route will begin on the Bridge View Center north patio overlooking the Des Moines River. Participants will walk to
the Wabash pedestrian bridge, cross the bridge, and walk back to Bridge View Center. The average walker can complete the one mile walk in approximately 20 minutes. Cost is a $5 donation to Wapello County Trails per walker. Children in strollers are free.
The event will include a coat drive for local students and prizes for several winter apparel categories. Judging will take place at 6 p.m. on the Bridge View Center north patio. Watch for details in future communications. Participants are encouraged to wear lights; decorate strollers and wagons; or dress their pets for the holidays. Bring new or gently used, clean coats to the entry tent to be collected. Due to construction of the new playground adjacent to the north levee trail, the walk will be an out and back event with luminaries lighting the levee trail.
The event will kick off the Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress’ Winterfest, which will be held at the JBS Sports Center on Saturday and Sunday, December 20 and 21. The Winterfest event will also include an ice-skating rink in The Beach parking lot during the week of December 15. Participants wanting to ice skate after the walk can pay an additional $5 at the gate for admission to both.
The trail parade, a first for the trails council, replaces the annual hike through the Holiday Nights ‘n Lights display, a holiday tradition for many families in the area. “We hope the community will come out and enjoy a brisk walk on the trail, take pictures on the newly-lighted Wabash
pedestrian bridge decked out with colorful lighting, and support trail efforts in Ottumwa,” said Kim Hellige, Wapello County Trails Council president.
