On June 5, 2024, during Wisconsin Bike Week, officials and community members gathered at Sunset Park in Kimberly to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting of the ‘Loop the Locks’ trail network. This event marked the culmination of years of collaborative effort and planning among Fox Valley communities.
Loop the Locks is a 13-mile bike & pedestrian trail system that links five communities – Appleton, Combined Locks, Kaukauna, Kimberly, and Little Chute – through a series of individual trail expansion projects.
The trails connect major parks, downtown areas, and business districts throughout the region, enhancing both recreational opportunities and alternative transportation options. The Fox River serves as a backdrop for most of the trail, but each segment sprinkles in unique elements: the Konkapot Creek in Kaukauna, river locks and dams in Little Chute and Kimberly, and trestle bridges in Kaukauna, Little Chute, and Appleton. In some cases, the trail even opens up access to previously inaccessible areas, like the Papermill Run segment in Kimberly, which runs through the former NewPage mill site and had been closed to the public for over a century. Now, users can enjoy Fox River views that were long off-limits to the general public.
At the project’s launch in 2018, Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson highlighted the collaborative nature of the project, noting that, “Each of the communities represented here made a sacrifice. Any one of them could have gone off in an independent direction. None did. Instead, they formed a loop of cooperation.”
All five municipalities, including Outagamie County, worked together to develop and complete the trail network, which was primarily funded through donations, grants, and local, state and federal programs. This includes support from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and from multiple charitable funds with the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has played a significant role in supporting many of the projects that built Loop the Locks. One example is the David and Rita Nelson Family Heritage Crossing, a 1,100-foot bicycle and pedestrian bridge that spans the Fox River. The project received $1.1 million from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, and connects Little Chute’s Heesakker Park to Kaukauna, linking the two communities’ trail systems. The projects demonstrate the positive impact that can be achieved when philanthropy and public funding support one another.
“Trail projects are so expensive and they really need Knowles-Nelson dollars to get over the line for funding in order to be built. Loop the Locks wouldn’t have been built without the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and other key contributors,” said Outagamie County Supervisor Joy Hagen.
Loop the Locks brings more than just scenic views to the Fox Valley. Trail networks work to boost local economies, draw in new visitors, and encourage spending in the communities they connect. This trail adds to the appeal of the Fox Valley region for both residents and businesses seeking areas rich in outdoor recreation. And beyond the economic impact, Loop the Locks promotes community health by offering easy access to outdoor activities.
The completion of Loop the Locks marks a new chapter for the Fox Valley. The network not only links communities, but also links the region’s past and future. By transforming former industrial sites and creating new Fox River vistas, the project preserves local heritage while promoting outdoor recreation, and stands as a testament to the power of regional cooperation and shared investment in public spaces.
Featured image courtesy of Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
