Trail keeper / After 16 years, man still works on project
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By BRANDY A. LEE
Standard-Examiner correspondent
WEST HAVEN -- Charles McFarland has lived in West Haven nearly all his life on his family's dairy farm. While he loved nature, he never saw himself as someone who would take on a project such as building a trail.
Sixteen years ago he was charged as a city council member to look into starting a trail in West Haven and connecting it to the existing trail Ogden had. He didn't think the West Haven trail would ever flourish as much as it has today.
"I never thought it would extend this far," McFarland said. "Ogden city was well on their way with their trail, and ours just became an extension."
Today, the 5-mile trail is fully paved, has 28 educational signs and has recently had some pavilions put in. It connects to a series of trails leading into Ogden and Riverdale that will take people up to the mouth of Ogden Canyon. When all the trails are completed and connected, it will be called the Centennial Trail and will extend more than 27 miles in length.
"I keep telling my wife this will be my last project, and then something else comes up," McFarland said.
His next project for the trail is to work with Marriott-Slaterville to get water to the pavilions. He has already gotten bids for water fountains and restrooms.
One of the reasons McFarland hadn't expected the trail to make it this far was because there was a lot of resistance when it was first proposed. But McFarland pushed forward, donating a lot of his own time and resources.
"Without Charlie, I don't think that trail would've ever happened," said West Haven resident and business owner Randy Moulding. "There was no funding and lots of opposition."
McFarland and many others visit the trail daily and help keep it cleaned up. He said that without the volunteers helping, the trail wouldn't be what it is today.
"I have a friend that will call me and tell me when the trash barrels are full or when there is graffiti," he said. "I then call the city and they get the graffiti painted over that day."
As McFarland walks along the trail, he speak enthusiastically about the fishermen who come and enjoy quiet moments in the river and the local children who play in the sections of the river where the water moves slowly. It delights him just to see people using the trail.
One of his favorite things about the trail is that a fisherman can be in both the Ogden and Weber rivers at the same time and catch a fish from two rivers at once.
"We're getting more usage as people are finding out about the trail," he said, pointing out a footpath leading to the river.
Moulding was originally on the committee when the trail started.
"I was a business owner, and it was by my property, so we figured we better be involved," he said.
The trail runs right along the property line of what was once Moulding's gravel pit. He donated some property, material for road base and the boulders that act as a natural retaining wall. Moulding also takes time to walk the trail and help keep it cleaned up.
Both McFarland and Moulding recognize the help of Councilwoman Jennifer Canter, who writes the RAMP grants for the city, and the many businesses that have donated time and resources.
"The city has taken it over and they help to get grants and donations for the different projects," Moulding said. "But if it wasn't for Charlie, this trail wouldn't be here today."
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