Bike-a-Palooza!

Emmet County Parks and Recreation is joining forces with Top of Michigan Trails Council to host a fun family event to raise awareness of the Little Traverse Wheelway. Bike-a-Palooza will be held at the Emmet County Fairgrounds on Sunday, June 18 from 2 – 4 p.m. The event is free to the public, and will offer a kids bike rodeo, bicycle demos, free bike safety checks, and free pizza, salad and root beer floats. A recommended donation of $5.00 (individual) or $10.00 (family) will be requested.

The event begins with a Fathers Day family bike ride from East Park pavilion. Registration will take place between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. Family members will be given a token for a free ice cream cone at Bob-In Again. Family cycling groups will travel the Wheelway to the Bob-In at their own pace, and can then return to enjoy the fun at the Fairgrounds.

For many cyclists in our area, the Wheelway is a favorite route that connects the communities of Charlevoix, Petoskey-Bay Harbor and Harbor Springs. This 26-mile paved trail is also a destination for many visitors to our area.

This event is a celebration of the trail, but is also meant to point out the need for funding for maintenance. The Parks and Recreation Department and the Trails Council have been meeting in the past months to find ways to approach costly repair needs, including root cutting to avoid root eruptions that damage sections of the trail and make it dangerous for cyclists.

For more information about Bike-a-Palooza call 231.348.8280.