Saturday marked 25 years of recreational advancements in Springfield as Ozark Greenways celebrated the connection of two popular trails.
The new Tal's Trailhead at 3551 S. Kaufman Road in south Springfield connects the 3-mile Wilson's Creek and 7-mile South Creek trails. The trailhead is named in honor of C. Tal Wooten, Jr., a donor to the project.
Over 100 bikers, joggers and nature lovers attended the ceremony, part of National Trails Day and the Greenways' 25th anniversary year. To date, the organization has built a roughly 70-mile network of urban and rural trails throughout the city and connected neighboring communities.
Harry Beckett, a Springfield musician, is a regular biker.
"I'm very supportive of Ozark Greenways' mission which is to get more paved trials throughout the city so people can bike more," Beckett said. "We are very passionate about trying different trials. It's all about taking advantage of the scenery and getting the exercise in a safe way."
The joining of the two trials is only a small piece of the puzzle. Terry Whaley, executive director of Ozark Greenways, says in the future officials want for people to be able to start the trial a few blocks from downtown and end at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield.