The Tammany Trace — the popular paved cycling and hiking path that follows a narrow, asphalt ribbon through St. Tammany Parish — will celebrate its 20th anniversary this weekend with a two-day festival.
The Trace is part of the "Rails to Trails" network that turns unused railroad corridors into usable space for cyclists, hikers and joggers. In 1992, St. Tammany Parish used federal money to buy the rail line about to be abandoned by Illinois Central Railroad for $1.4 million. The parish pulled together federal, state, parish and private sources to begin paving segments of the old railway.
NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports the corridor has expanded to a 31-mile paved trail that begins in Covington, passes through Abita Springs and Mandeville, and continues east through Lacombe to just outside Slidell.
Celebrations begin Saturday morning in Covington, with a farmers' market, art market, and jazz band.
