On Oct. 9, students who walk and ride bikes to school in Evergreen will join Jefferson County commissioners and school district staff, neighborhood groups and businesses to celebrate the completion of the North Evergreen Activities Trail. The trail connects homes with neighborhood schools to make biking and walking safer for children. Before the trail, children traveled on an unpaved shoulder.

NEAT Trail Dedication: 10/9/13 at 2:30pm at Bergen Valley Elementary, 1422 Sugarbush Dr., Evergreen

The $300,000-plus project was funded with community donations and a Safe Routes to School grant. Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado State Trails, Evergreen Parks & Recreation District, Jeffco Public Schools and Jefferson County also partnered on the project.

We’re excited to see our Safe Routes to School work continue to blossom in this community. It’s a great example of how communities, county governments, school districts and private organizations can work together to make communities safer for kids to ride their bikes.