Nature lovers and those who enjoying hiking and biking now have another venue to explore in the Greater Waco area.

The city of Woodway will have a ribbon-cutting event at 6 p.m. Monday to mark the grand opening of new and improved hike and bike trails in Woodway Park.

The park straddles Lake Waco. Nearly four miles of trails wind through the wooded terrain.

Woodway residents (front to back) Penny Ficker, Martin Kemper and Rusty Hansgen pedal their way along a portion of the new hike and bike trails in Woodway Park. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 6 p.m. Monday at the park’s trailhead.
Ken Sury / Waco Tribune-Herald

Woodway Mayor Bill Weber and City Manager Yost Zakhary plan to recognize the efforts of resident Martin Kemper, the Waco Bicycle Club and Boy Scout Troop 308 in making the trails a reality.

“Martin has done a phenomenal job working on the trails,” said Natalie Edwards, assistant to the city manager and staff liaison with the city’s parks and recreation commission on which Kemper serves.

“He just about single-handedly worked on those trails,” she said. “But it’s not just the trails. He’s into nature. He’s very dedicated to the city of Woodway and the parks system.”

Kemper, 62, has spent the past three years trudging through the woods’ overgrowth, often with chain saw in tow, to cut out the trails. He’s quick to deflect any praise about his endeavor.

“I just want people to use it,” he said.

The Boy Scouts have been a big help, too, Kemper said. Troop members — as an Eagle Scout project — have been building a low-water crossing on one particular dip in the trails.

Because Woodway Park is connected with Lake Waco, anytime Kemper wants to extend the trails he first needs approval from the city and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees the lake.

Rusty Hansgen, 63, a Woodway resident who like Kemper is a member of the Waco Bicycle Club, believes the Woodway Park trails are an excellent addition to existing area venues.

Martin Kemper tugs on his gloves during a break in working on the Woodway Park trails.
Rod Aydelotte / Waco Tribune-Herald

Boy Scouts with Troop 308 work on building a low-water crossing for the trails as an Eagle Scout project.
Rod Aydelotte / Waco Tribune-Herald

The bicycle club, he said, has either helped create or maintain some 55 miles of trails within Cameron Park, Reynolds Creek Park, Lacy Point, and even Colorado Bend State Park near Lampasas.

Still a draw for caving enthusiasts, Colorado Bend now boasts about 20 miles of biking trails, Hansgen said. The club has been involved with that state park for about four years, he said.

“This (Woodway Park trails) gives people a variety of places to hike and bike and enjoy,” Hansgen said.

After Monday’s ceremony, residents will be invited to explore the new trails. The bicycle club also plans to hold time trials on a 3.7-mile stretch.

Participants will race against the clock and themselves, Kemper said. The Waco Striders running club also has been invited to attend, he said.

As Kemper continues to cut trails in the park he’s running into neighborhood children who have been discovering and enjoying those paths. He hopes that with the opening, people unfamiliar with Woodway Park will come and enjoy what it has to offer.

ksury@wacotrib.com

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