'Middle School Mile' completed

Another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place for the trails network in Sisters.

Sisters Middle School students have just finished building and signing a connector trail between Sisters Middle School, Sisters High School, and Tollgate and Crossroads subdivisions. This 0.55-mile trail (nicknamed "The Middle School Mile," though it is half that) is located at the west end of the middle school parking lot, directly south of the football field, and connects to the extensive trails network under the Sisters Trails Alliance.

This project began five years ago with a grant from the Sisters Schools Foundation for basic tools and supplies needed for outdoor work by students, and to restart the greenhouse. That donation encouraged Murl Holmes of M&M Nursery to donate his time, talent and plants to the greenhouse. Under his guidance, students grew and sold enough plants to begin to fund their own projects, including $1,500 to build and sign this trail.

This connector trail was the first student project, to increase speed and safety of students going between the high school and the middle school. The ongoing middle school E-Crew classes, Marti Dale's Interim Week classes, Tony Crosby's woodworking classes, the National Forest Service, and the Sisters Trails Alliance all contributed to the project.

The latest partnership includes the Sisters Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The store is donating pots that will be used for the school's annual plant sale. Behind it all, however, was Nancy Connolly who provided constant inspiration and guidance and who worked tirelessly to organize and carry out the project.

Besides being a recreational asset for the community at large, the trail is being heavily used by the PE classes and cross country teams and was the site for the recent middle school cross country meet.

With the trail now in place, there's more work to be done - including "paving" it with bark chips or similar material and building amenities along the trail. The community is warmly invited to pitch in and help our students make this trail really special. For more information contact Sisters Middle School at 541-549-2099.