City of Lansing unveils Mt. Hosmer trail signage; Project designed to improve safety, usability and health benefits of Mt. Hosmer trail system
Navigating the effort to help navigate the trails ... Members of the groups that recently installed trail signage on the Mt. Hosmer trail system in Lansing include, standing left to right, Jared Nielsen and Austin Feuerhelm of Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development, Maryann Baldwin of Lansing’s Parks and Recreation Board, trail volunteer Bruce Carlson, Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism Executive Director Val Reinke and, under the sign, trail volunteer Andrew Boddicker and local resident Katie O’Regan with her dog, Lacey. The main sign pictured with the group above, posted in Veterans Memorial Park atop Mt. Hosmer, shows how hikers can navigate the network of trails and loops. Photo by Ellen Modersohn.
Putting the Mt. Hosmer trail system to educational use ... Tuesday, May 23, students on a field trip from First Lutheran School in La Crosse, WI set off to hike on the Lookout Loop, which skims the top of Mt. Hosmer in Lansing. As legend has it, the Mt. Hosmer bluff was named for a young woman visitor, Harriet Hosmer, who in 1851, disembarked from a steamboat at Lansing and won a footrace to the top. Photo by Ellen Modersohn.
Leading the way through the Mt. Hosmer trail system ... New signage along Mt. Hosmer trails includes the items pictured above that were unveiled during a Tuesday, May 23 event atop Mt. Hosmer. Those items include trail identification and mileage signs, directional signs, beginning and end points, and information about what hikers can see along the way. Photo by Ellen Modersohn.
The City of Lansing and the Lansing Park and Recreation Board announce the completion of a mapping and trail signage placement project for the trails that emanate from the Mt. Hosmer Park. The project was made possible by a 2021 grant from the Wellmark Foundation. An unveiling event was held Tuesday, May 23 at Mt. Hosmer Park to share the installation with the public.
“We are excited to share all the great work that went into this partnership to bring this new benefit to Lansing residents and visitors who enjoy the beauty of Mt. Hosmer and its trails,” said Maryann Baldwin, Lansing Parks Board Chair. “Most importantly, our community volunteers who have created these trails and collaborated with the City and Northeast Iowa RC&D (Resource Conservation & Development) to bring this project to life.”
The unveiling event featured a look at the information kiosks located at the trail heads and the individual signs that allow hikers to navigate a network of trails of varying difficulty and experiences. Lansing is known for its recreational opportunities and the Mt. Hosmer trail system, created by community volunteers, is one of the top draws in the city and in Allamakee County as a whole.
PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHEAST IOWA RC&D
The project was enabled by resources provided by Northeast Iowa RC&D. The 501c3 non-profit organization has provided expertise, services and technology that allowed for GIS mapping of the trails, development of formal trail system maps and map kiosks, and wayfinding signage. The RC&D recently provided similar services to the 25 miles of soft trails located in the Decorah Park system. “We enjoy working with project partners to explore natural resource-based economic development opportunities,” said Josh Dansdill, Business Development Projects Director, “while at the same time enhancing our abundance of natural resources that in addition provide a quality place to live.”
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY E-911 BOARD PARTICIPATION
This project also benefits the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department in their efforts to maintain a detailed understanding of area terrain to enable potential rescue efforts. While mishaps are rare, in the event of a search and/or rescue event, the detailed, satellite-sourced mapping will allow for efficient access to this densely wooded area. The County E-911 Board contributed $1,000 in funds to help cover the matching portion of the grant.
SCENIC BYWAYS’ CONTRIBUTION TO THE PLAN
The trail mapping project dovetails nicely with an existing effort that recently added wayfinding map kiosks to the Main Street Lansing kiosks in town. These maps include both information on where to find trails in the Lansing area, as well as a display of the detailed Mt. Hosmer trail system.
“One of the main reasons we began our kiosk project was to draw more attention to Mount Hosmer. Previously, there was no indication downtown that the park and hiking network exists, and the only signage elsewhere consists of a couple of drab brown signs that simply state the name of the park” says Andy Kelleher, Executive Director of Main Street Lansing. “Without a tip from a local, visitors had no way of knowing about the incredible views and trails that are minutes from downtown. We are glad that an updated map is now available for display so that anybody exploring Lansing can discover the beauty of Mount Hosmer.”
TRAIL SYSTEM RICH IN VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT
The trail system surrounding the park at the top of Mt. Hosmer has enjoyed a history of volunteer efforts to develop, mark and maintain a series of trails that serve a variety of abilities. The roughly eight miles of trails are used by both hikers and mountain bikers nearly year-round. Trail volunteer Bruce Carlson adds. “Seeing people connect with nature through hiking our trails is such a joy for me. It makes the many hours of trail maintenance worth it. So many people are walking in town, up to the top of Mt. Hosmer on the road. I am glad that this project will make our trails more accessible, helping hikers to expand their horizons, allowing nature to creep into their spirit.”
THE WELLMARK FOUNDATION
The mission of The Wellmark Foundation is to fund initiatives that positively impact the well-being of Iowans and South Dakotans. Funding supports community-based wellness and prevention initiatives focusing on safe and healthy environments in which to be active, and access to and consumption of healthy foods where we live, work, learn and play. The Wellmark Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created in 1991 by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. The Wellmark Foundation has provided millions of dollars in grant funding to projects that promote healthy lifestyles across Iowa and South Dakota for the past decade.
