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Mission Statement
 Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of all Baldwin Countians by planning, funding and construction of a countywide network of hiking biking trails connecting community to community town to country, and people to people and by educating its citizens about the advantages and safe use of our non-motorized transportation facilities to promote healthy lifestyles. |
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In the Works...
Baldwin County currently has more than 74 miles of existing trails for you to enjoy.
Construction is expected to begin in November on a trail from Mullet Point to Hwy 13 along Hwy 98. The Trailblazers are contributing $50 thousand dollars toward the County's construction.
The County has budgeted for Weeks Bay Preserve west to Hwy 27 along Hwy 98. Alabama Department
of Transportation is reviewing the plans and construction is not scheduled.
Spanish Fort Extension Trail from Gator Alley is complete. A dedication ceremony is planned for the near future.
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Greetings!
The Baldwin County Trailblazers have always been good stewards of the environment but now we've moved toward a deeper shade of green by saving paper, stamps, and sending out an electronic version of our quarterly newsletter. Please join our electronic mailing list. Send your email to info@thetrailblazers.org. We promise not to share your address and to use it solely for the purposes of The Baldwin County Trailblazers. |
Le Tour De Foley Pedal the Scenic Roads of South Baldwin County |
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Organizers of Le Tour de Foley expect the first-ever south Baldwin event to draw everyone from experienced cyclists to tikes on trikes. The ride, set for Oct. 24, is sponsored by the Baldwin County Trailblazers, the City of Foley, the Foley Lions Club and Hotel Magnolia. Funds raised from the event will help the Baldwin County Trailblazers extend and create safe pathways throughout the county for cyclists, joggers, and walkers alike.
Le Tour de Foley offers cyclists their choice of three scenic routes of varying length: 62 and 25-mile road courses will challenge serious cyclists. A three-mile Fun Ride is available for bicycle riders who prefer a shorter distance.
The event will start and finish at Foley Heritage Park. Cyclists will wind through city streets and country roads in the communities of Foley, Summerdale, Robertsdale, Elberta, Elsanor, Miflin, Josephine and Loxley with rest stops along the route.
Ride organizers are looking for a crew of volunteers for a variety of duties including rest stop captains and lieutenants, "sag wagon" drivers and individuals to man the registration booth and the start/finish line.
Registration for Le Tour de Foley is $40 for the longer rides and $5 for the three-mile fun ride. A t-shirt is guaranteed to riders pre-registered by Oct. 15. Individual and corporate sponsorships ranging from $250 to $1500 are also available.Sponsorships include reserved tickets to a pre-race registration dinner on October 23 at 6 pm. Visit www.letourdefoley.com to download a registration form. For more information about sponsorships or to volunteer contact Tony Edwards at 251-937-4586 or pianoplayertony@bellsouth.net. |
Baldwin County Trailblazers need help finishing the recently constructed trail map kiosks located along the Eastern Shore Trail. The kiosks were designed with a decorative panel above the map that was intended to display artwork from local artisans and graphic designers. Trailblazers are requesting quarter size concept sketches from interested artists to have their artwork showcased. The finished decorative panels will be approximately 72"x18" - painted on with acrylic paint, and coated in a finish protective coat of polyurethane. The theme will be running, walking, bicycling, canoeing and other nature related fitness motifs. Please submit your quarter size concept sketch (18'x5") for the decorative art panel-these can be simple pencil or ink sketches, charcoal, or any media of the artist's choice.
Paper for concept sketches will be provided at the Fairhope Artist's Gallery, 18 South Section Street, Fairhope. The chosen artists will be provided the plywood canvas and polyurethane to create the panels. They will also be given an 8"x5" advertising space inside the map panel for a time period of up to 1 year. Submittal Deadline: October 15, 2009-5:00 PM, Submit Concept sketches to: The Fairhope Artist's Gallery. Any questions, contact Will-251-508-3794. |
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More To The Point
Joggers and Cyclists in Point Clear can go the extra mile - on the Eastern Shore trail that is. Work will be completed this fall on the Point Clear section of the trail that follows scenic Highway 98 from the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa south to County Road 32.
The Point Clear section is yet another link in the 32-mile Eastern Shore Trail that stretches from the Battleship USS Alabama on the Mobile Bay Causeway, crosses the bay to Spanish Fort, then follows the coast south through Daphne, Montrose, Fairhope, Point Clear, Mullet Point and beyond to the Weeks Bay National Reserve at Fish River.
At a groundbreaking ceremony June 12, trail organizers, elected officials, county engineers and dedicated friends of the Trailblazers were all smiles as they gathered to watch the ceremonial first shovelful of dirt. Baldwin County Trailblazer founder Teko Wiseman told the crowd "Weeks Bay or Bust!"
Baldwin County Trailblazers' board members PJ McAleer, Cathy Taylor and Mary Younce organized the event that featured an elegant spread of miniature bites from the chefs at the Grand Hotel.
Special thanks to Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa, Vision Bank, Jeri Harrison, Fairhope Hardware, Miller's Grand Events, Bill Harrison - The Garage Gallery, Signs Now and Postnet for contributing to the success of this memorable groundbreaking celebration. |
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Sidewalk For Students
 Thanks to the Baldwin County Trailblazers and the City of Daphne, students will soon have a safe way to walk to school. The City of Daphne has received a Safe Routes to School grant for an eight-foot wide sidewalk alongside County Rd. 13, from Whispering Pines Road south to Ottowa Trace neighborhood. The proposed sidewalk area runs next to Daphne East Elementary and Daphne Middle School.
There was compelling evidence to make sidewalks a priority. The two schools were built with no existing sidewalks connecting the schools and the community and no crosswalks at intersections around the schools. Less than 1 percent of middle school students surveyed said they currently walk to class.
The Baldwin County Trailblazers wrote the grant on behalf of the City of Daphne. A construction start date for the sidewalks has not been announced.
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Share The Road!
As a memorial to our beloved friends Ann and Larry McDuff, who passed away in separate cycling accidents, the Trailblazers are offering supporters the opportunity to sponsor a "Share the Road" sign. The signs feature a rear view of a motorist and cyclist travelling side by side with the "Share the Road" message below them. Read The Full Story!
To sponsor a sign; mail your $40.00 check; payable to: Baldwin County Trailblazers, P.O. Box 701, Daphne, Al. 36526; These 24"x24" brightly colored reflective metal signs will be posted on roads most frequented by cyclists in Baldwin County. | |
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The Trailblazers' is a great organization to be involved in! I look forward to accomplishing all of our "In The Works" goals. Please join us on our trailblazing adventures? |
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Sincerely,
Walter Ernest, President
Baldwin County Trailblazers' Organization
Post Office Box 701
Fairhope, Al 36532 |
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