Seniors and people who are unable to walk the Rotary Riverfront Trail in Washington can begin registering May 1 for the annual Trail Day Rides.
The event, sponsored by the Washington Rotary Club and Washington Parks Department, will be held Wednesday, June 6.
Free transportation to and from the event will be provided to people living within the Washington city limits by Matt Tobben with State Farm Insurance, who will provide two of the company’s PT Cruisers. Seniors can select any time frame they want to be picked up and returned home.
To make arrangements for a free ride, people can call Joan Unnerstall at State Farm, 636-239-4746, or 314-708-3120.
To register, people should call Robin Peirick at the Washington Parks Department, 636-390-1080, and select a ride or escort time. People also can tell Robin if they need transportation to and from the event.
The day will begin at 8 a.m. with wheelchair escorts for anyone wanting to be pushed along the trail. Five trams will start loading at 8:30 a.m. and continue through 2 p.m.
Three of the five trams can accommodate wheelchairs. Plenty of wheelchairs are provided from area businesses.
All five trams will have a guide onboard pointing out aspects of the scenery along the trail.
Bingo games under the main pavilion start at 9 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. Lots of prizes are given away which are donated from area businesses.
A free lunch will be provided by the Washington Rotary Club and will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by volunteers, including students from St. Francis Borgia Regional High School and Washington High School.
The menu is hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies and ice cream. Plenty of refreshments will be provided.
Prior to lunch, “Taps” will be played, and the American Legion will give a gun salute to honor veterans.
This is the 13th event for the Riverfront Tram Rides which were started by Barb Hellmann who loves walking the trail and had the dream of finding a way for anyone who was unable to walk the Rotary Riverfront Trail to be able to see the beauty of the trail. The events are sponsored by the Washington Rotary Club and the Washington Parks Department.
This event has grown into a special day each year for seniors and people of any age who are unable to walk the trail. Many residents from area nursing homes and assisted living centers have participated in the past.
This annual event has truly become a community supported project.
Any local business that would like to make a donation should contact Sharon Monzyk at 314-708-5210.
