The City of Perry will be undertaking a big project this year to improve the trail system in Wiese Park.

At their recent meeting, the City Council approved bid letting for the project, and set a public hearing for April 16th to discuss the bids and plan specifications. Some on the Council expressed worry over how pedestrians on the trail will coexist with bicyclists, though City Administrator Sven Peterson alleviated many of those fears. “There was a little bit of concern as the High Trestle Trail may be going through Wiese Park in the future. Just kind of some concern over safety. But I think we all kind of worked through some of those issues and resolved some of those concerns. But it’s definitely something that we will be keeping an eye on for safety, and in the future we may have to look for another route or something. But for now, it’ll be going through Wiese Park, and the trail project will be able to get completed.”

The width of the trails through much of Wiese Park will increase to 10-feet, and Peterson says eventually the entire network will be expanded. The project is being paid for through a grant from the Wiese Foundation, specifically given to make improvements to the park’s trails.