The public is invited to a meeting on future plans for the David Canny Rountree Branch Trail in the Platteville Municipal Building council chambers Wednesday, April 6 at 5:15 p.m.

The grand opening for the lighted and paved trail project is scheduled for Sept. 15.

Bridge construction on the trail near Valley Road is continuing. Schmidt Electrical has completed installation of the light poles and the lights are on from Mineral Street to trail end. Dr. Yari Johnson’s UW–Platteville Revegetation class has 400 to 500 native plants growing in the university greenhouse, and students will be planting them along the trail in the spring.

Platteville Community Arboretum’s Kris Wright will introduce the members of the new Social Maintenance Committee and gardeners, share the current state of plans to assure the trail is in tip-top shape and the long term plan for the future.

The Social Maintenance Committee is a group interested in removing such undesirable plants as burdock, garlic mustard and thistles from such areas as along the trail side, landscaping bench, kiosk and gazebo areas. The group may also develop some butterfly gardens. Members already signed on include Gary Tuescher, Bev Johanson, Lynne Tanner, Staci Strobl, Matt Michaels, Ron Weier, John and Ellen Urness, John Duesbury, Mike Foley and Steve Olenchek.  

To join the group to work in a natural setting for an hour or two a week (or on occasion) or in maintaining a trail side garden plot, contact Wright, pca@plattevillearboretum.org, or Gene Weber, geneweber4@gmail.com. One objective of this team effort is to have the trail in stunning condition for the grand opening.