For Immediate Release Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Contact:  Suzanne Parsons Stymiest @ 985-898-5243

First Section of Tammany Trace Reopens

St. Tammany Parish and the Tammany Trace Foundation are pleased to announce the official reopening of the section of the Trace from the Abita River Bridge in Abita Springs to the Mandeville Trailhead.  This is the first section of the Tammany Trace to reopen after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made the 31-mile linear park unsafe with fallen trees and debris.  Eddie Williams, of the St. Tammany Parish Engineering Department, has been monitoring the situation and said, “This area of the Trace has been inspected and it is safe and ready for anxious Trace users.”

“Rangers will be on duty at the Tammany Trace Trailhead beginning Friday, Nov. 4, and will remain on the regular schedule at this section seven days a week,” according to Parish President Kevin Davis.  “We hope to have the Slidell section cleared and ready for use in the near future.  The Slidell/Carollo Trailhead sustained only minor damage, but the Trace itself suffered major damage in that area.  We lost a lot of old trees and had some bridge damage.”

“We have been anxious to get the Trace reopened,” said Tammany Trace Director Lisa Pratt.  “Biking, running or strolling the Trace is a great way for people to relax, exercise and enjoy the beautiful weather. We are also working on our Holiday of Lights event, which will be held at the Caboose Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10.”  The Tammany Trace Caboose is located at the main trailhead on Koop Drive, north of I-12, exit #65, under the water tower.

            For more information on the Tammany Trace, call 867-9490.

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