Nebraskaland Magazine
LINCOLN – The public is invited to join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for the Duane Westerholt Memorial Kiosk Dedication on the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail west of Norfolk on Nov. 6.
The event honoring Westerholt’s contribution to the trail will take place at 11 a.m. at the kiosk located at a trail bridge over the Elkhorn River 3 miles west of TaHaZouka Park.
Westerholt, during a 40-year career with the Commission, oversaw the Cowboy Trail and obtained resources for its development from Norfolk to Valentine. He also oversaw Nebraska’s water trails and worked to create canoeing maps.
An avid outdoorsman, Westerholt enjoyed birding, sailing, camping, fishing, hunting, travel and helping others learn about nature and the outdoors.
The Cowboy Trail is the nation’s longest rail-to-trail conversion. A 195-mile span of trail from Norfolk to Valentine is complete, and, farther west, 3 miles of trail are complete in the communities of Gordon and Rushville. The trail was designated a National Recreation Trail in the National Trails System in 2001.
Refreshments will be served at the event. To get to the dedication site, go 2 miles west on Omaha Avenue from U.S. 275, and then south for a half mile on Broken Bridge Road to a parking area along the trail. The bridge is a half mile west on the trail.
In case of inclement weather, the dedication will be held at the Elkhorn Lodge at TaHaZouka Park, 1008 McKinely Ave.
