Celebrating The Opening Of The Dryden To Freeville Section Of The Dryden Rail Trail

Those who already use the informally opened trail that starts on Main Street in Dryden and winds its way into Freeville know how popular it has become. On May 11th from 10:00 to 3:00 we will officially open our new community asset! There will be something for everyone – a bird walk, a fun run, railway themed games and activities, an opening ceremony, food, Dryden Rail Trail merchandise, and music by MaddDaddy, featuring Ted Walsh and Maddy Walsh of The Blind Spots.

The festivities begin on either end of the trail at the kiosks in Dryden and Freeville, where Mayors Mike Murphy and David Fogel will meet with you to walk, jog, or bike the trail (Lime bikes will be available). The two groups will converge at the celebration venue, a pavilion on Old George Road, generously provided by the William George Agency. Everyone will have a train ‘ticket’ to be stamped along the Trail for free raffle tickets for great prizes at the pavilion.

Brief remarks will be presented by local dignitaries and trail developers, with Freeville native Amy Dickinson as master of ceremonies, and the mayors of the villages of Freeville and Dryden will drive a golden spike to officially open the trail!

A Bird Walk will start earlier (7:30 at the kiosk in Freeville) as the birds may be too shy to stay for the 10:00 event! The Fun Run, a railroad themed event and fund raiser for the Dryden PTA, starts at the George Road kiosk, with a sign-in time of 9:30 and a fee of $10. Runners of all ages are encouraged to participate in this run from George Road to Freeville and back again, a distance just under 5K.

Guided nature walks will also commence at the Freeville trail kiosk, and activities will continue throughout the day at the pavilion, including a trail trivia game, an interactive game like slot online, giant Jenga, box car races, a coloring table, and construction of paper railway lanterns. A puppet making workshop by Lily Gershon of LilySilly Puppets will be held from 12:00 until 2:00, and Railway Bingo will be played at 1:00. Madd Daddy will play from 12:00 to 1:00 and from 2:00 to 3:00. Raffle drawings will be held at 1:30. Rail Trail merchandise will be sold throughout the day.

Although most activities are centered in the pavilion near George Road, there will only be handicapped parking at this location. There is parking in Dryden at Elm and Wall Street, in Freeville by the Freeville Village Hall, and other locations as directed by our volunteers. It takes 40 to 50 minutes to walk, and there will be a shuttle bus to return you to your car from 1:00 to 3:00 at 15 minute intervals from the pavilion.

This section is part of a planned trail that will connect two much loved trails – the Jim Schug section of the Dryden Rail Trail, and (after proceeding through Etna and Varna) the East Ithaca Recreation Way. This trail will truly be a system ‘Connecting Communities’ in Dryden!

Many thanks our wonderful sponsors who made this event possible, Whitmore Fence Co, Upscale Remodeling, B&B Flooring, and Bailey Place Insurance.