The Syracuse-Wawasee Trails Committee held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the new trail around Syracuse Lake and the surrounding area. Pictured from left are: the Easter Bunny; Jodi Buhrt, Trails Committee member; Amara McClellan; Megan McClellan, Trails Committee executive director; Holly Swoverland, K21 Foundation; Mike Buhrt, former chairman of the Trails Committee; and Jerry Wright, Trails Committee member. (Photo provided)

Following the annual Easter egg hunt held Saturday morning at the Syracuse Community Center, the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails Committee held their own welcoming of Spring rite with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the loop trail around Syracuse Lake. The event coincided with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s designated “Opening Day for Trails.”

According to Megan McClellan, executive director for the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails Community, the local trail follows a five mile loop around the lake as well as parts of North Shore, East Shore, Main Street and Cornelius Road, through the wetlands. While the trail is completely open, McClellan noted that there is still some signage to be installed which will take place in the near future. The loop is a multi-use trail for walkers, runners and bikers.

McClellan added the the trails committee holds a weekly walk around the loop each Wednesday at 1 p.m. The group, which is open to everyone, departs from the Syracuse Community Center and continues at a pace suitable to those in attendance.

The Syracuse-Wawasee Trails Committee is part of the Syracuse-Wawasee Park Foundation and is designated as a not-for-profit 501©3 organization.