The public is invited to attend a free celebration of the Northwestern Pacific Rail Trail between Gobbi and Clara Streets, on Friday, October 6th from 5–7 pm.
The idea for the event originated when local property owner Roy Krausen wondered why more people in Ukiah weren’t taking advantage of the Rail Trail. Krausen reached out to others in the community including the Arts Council of Mendocino County, a countywide not-for-profit organization with its office in the historic railroad depot ... view more »
The public is invited to attend a free celebration of the Northwestern Pacific Rail Trail between Gobbi and Clara Streets, on Friday, October 6th from 5–7 pm.
The idea for the event originated when local property owner Roy Krausen wondered why more people in Ukiah weren’t taking advantage of the Rail Trail. Krausen reached out to others in the community including the Arts Council of Mendocino County, a countywide not-for-profit organization with its office in the historic railroad depot building on the Rail Trail, and to City Councilmember Mo Mulheren, artist and public-art advocate Laura Fogg, and private security specialist Perry Tripp.
The trail enthusiasts’ group soon expanded to include the Ukiah Blue Zones Project, North Coast Opportunity’s Gardens Project, the School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education (SPACE), Walk and Bike Mendocino, Dave’s Bike Shop, Bikes for Kids, Food for All, and the Mendocino County Department of Public Health. Each organization or business will bring its own celebratory element to the event, and invites others to join in the fun as either observers or participants.
The Ukiah Bike Kitchen will provide a bike-repair stand and tools at the event, to assist bicycle owners with any needed repairs. The Ukiah Valley Trail Group will present an info booth to describe their work and upcoming projects to help develop and beautify the Rail Trail by adding landscaping, exhibits and interpretive elements. Walk and Bike Mendocino will provide a bicycle-safety demonstration booth. The Arts Council will share information about its programs, as well as City of Ukiah renderings of upcoming Phases 2 and 3 of the Rail Trail expansion.
The Raging Grannies and the Uketones will provide music for this event, and other acoustic musicians are also invited to find a spot on the Trail to entertain passersby. SPACE will present El Teatro en Llantas, in which a multigenerational cast of twenty local artists and Latino community members will present three actos—short theatrical scenes—and several songs that humorously address contemporary issues from the bed of a flatbed truck that has been transformed into a stage. Grace Hudson Museum will offer a free printmaking workshop with printer Meredith Hudson-Redfield. The museum’s new path connecting the Museum with the Rail Trail will be open for walkers that night.
Walkers, bikers, dog-walkers and all others are welcome to this free event, to celebrate together the transformation of unused land into an outstanding public resource. The Rail Trail is located along the west side of the NCRA railroad tracks, and the event’s main activities will occur along the Trail between Perkins and Gobbi streets. Those seeking more information are encouraged simply to attend the event.
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