Gene Bebel, a driving force behind the development of the River Bend Trail in Merrill, has stepped down as president of the River District Development Foundation Board of Directors. Bebel has been president of the board since its inception in 2011.
“This has been a marvelous group to work with,” Bebel said at the close of his last meeting as president. “Thanks for all the memories.”
Bebel indicated he was stepping aside from the responsibilities of the River District Development Foundation to spend more time with family.
“My wife and I thought I should retire again,” Bebel joked.
A retired school administrator, Bebel worked tirelessly through the various challenges that led to the trail becoming a reality in 2014. Early accomplishments included fostering a partnership with the city of Merrill and purchasing the railroad corridor along the Wisconsin River – not to mention securing donations for a project that was still just a concept.
“Some of our challenges were actually fun,” Bebel said.
A ribbon cutting for the new trail was held in August 2015. Since then, amenities have been added and the trail expanded.
In 2014, Development and Leasing Corporation gifted the former Anson-Gilkey property to the foundation, which allowed for an eastward expansion of the trail in 2017. The foundation was able to purchase a pole building at the south end of Park Street from Wisconsin Public Service. That building has seen an extensive exterior renovation by Agra Construction. Fundraising is ongoing to complete the interior work, along with landscaping features around the building.
Volunteers and donations continue to be the life blood of the River Bend Trail.
Bebel acknowledged the volunteers who have sustained the effort necessary to develop and improve the trail.
“We’ve been very fortunate,” he said.
Board member Steve Dahm thanked Bebel for his diligence and persistence in pursuing the dream that would ultimately become the River Bend Trail.
“I was a principal for 32 years,” Bebel responded. “I got a lot of practice in being persistent.”
The board will consider Bebel’s successor early in 2019