LAYTON -- Walkers, joggers, cyclists and skateboarders get ready -- on Saturday more than 20 miles of trail will be open for use in Top of Utah.
Work has recently been completed on paved trails through Layton and Farmington, two paths in a network of trails being built by Utah Transit Authority and cities in Davis and Weber counties on the former Denver Rio Grande Western railway.
To celebrate the trail opening, recreation officials in five cities, as well as staff members in Davis County Health Department, are teaming on National Trails Day this Saturday with a free event called "Pirates of the Trail Day."
Events will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Farmington with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Scott Harbertson and the Farmington Trails Committee.
The ceremony will take place at 1100 West and 151 South, in front of Legacy Events Center.
"We at Farmington city are very excited to see this rail trail come to fruition," said Christy Alexander, associate city planner. "Not only for the amenities it adds to our city, but also for the connections it inspires."
Beginning at 11 a.m. and running until 2 p.m., various activities will be held in Layton, Clearfield, Clinton and Kaysville.
To highlight the recreational advantages of the new trail, event organizers stress that everyone is welcome to attend: runners, joggers, walkers, bikers, rollerbladers and skateboarders.
"This trail is a long time coming," said Layton Mayor Steve Curtis. "It gives people an opportunity to bike or walk from Weber County into the southern part of Davis County. People should really use it and enjoy."
UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter said the final portion of the trail, in Roy, should be completed in August.
The 24-mile trail system is a partnership among UTA and the cities the trail runs through -- Roy, Clinton, Clearfield, Layton, Kaysville, Farmington, Centerville and West Bountiful.
UTA purchased railroad right of way from Payson to Brigham City to build the FrontRunner commuter rail. The agency purchased about 175 miles of right of way and, to date, has used about half of it.
UTA will continue to own the trail properties, but the cities will manage and maintain them.
The trail will eventually be integrated with the Legacy Parkway Trail, and there is talk that the system will eventually connect to the Jordan River Parkway trail system in Salt Lake County, resulting in more than 70 miles of connected trails.
UTA reserves the right to convert the trail back to rail if the state's transportation system ever calls for it.
Pirates of the Trail Day locations:
* Clearfield: Steed Park, 300 N. 1000 West.
* Clinton: Corner of 2300 N. 1000 West.
* Farmington: Legacy Events Center, 1100 W.151 South.
* Kaysville: Corner of Webb Lane and Flint Street.
* Layton: Ellison Elementary, 750 N. Cold Creek Way.
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