(Press Release)

(Temple) – The Temple Parks & Leisure Services Department will host a ceremony, Wednesday August 20, 2008, commemorating the designation of the Lions Park trail as a National Recreation Trail. Congressman John Carter will be in attendance and will help celebrate this special honor.

While announcing the recipients of this year’s National Recreation Trail designations, Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, stated that Lions Park and the other new designated National Recreation Trails “exemplify partnerships and are providing a path to fitness and stewardship for Americans of all ages."

“We are extremely proud of this honor,” Parks & Leisure Services Director, Ken Cicora said. “For years the City has been working to grow and improve its trail system. This designation recognizes the result of lots of hard work and effort.”

The event is open to the public and will be held in Lions Park, down the hill from the swimming pool, near the park’s playground and horseshoe pits. The ceremony will include words from Congressman Carter and Cicora as well as Mayor Bill Jones and a member of the Temple Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. Following the trails dedication, there will be a short ribbon cutting, after which community members, including youth from Camp Heatwave, will walk the trail and see why it earned such national attention.

“This is going to be a great event,” Cicora said. “We are very happy to share this special honor with all the members of the Temple community.”

Lions Park’s trail is two miles in length. The trail was completed in the fall of 2004 after the City had received a $100,000 grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for its construction. The trail cost just under $135,000 to build.

Lions Park’s trail is actually a combination of two various types trails. The first, made of concrete, meanders through the lower part of the park. Along this trail are wetlands and a beautiful pecan grove. The second is located along the hillside, where walkers can see a cedar grove, fishing pond, pavilions and a great view of the city.