Community leaders, past and present, gathered at Wilkerson Park Saturday to celebrate the 20th birthday of Flower Mound's trail system which started at 1.4 miles along Timber Creek. Mayor Jody Smith and former Mayor Rick Lust praised foresight and action of leaders that have helped create a 32-mile trail system that the town continues to expand and improve.  Many of them were on hand, including Flower Mound's first Mayor, Bob Rheudasil and Mel Rapp, who worked on Flower Mound's early efforts at trail development.  There was also a butterfly release in the memory of John Thomas, who served on the Parks Board. The dignitaries opened a time capsule buried 20 years ago.  The container had done an excellent job of preserving mementos from the dedication of the first mile of trail in 1989. Visitors were able to look at business cards for Parks Board members Thomas, Pete Petersen, Andre Gerault and Michael Reber.  There were also some t shirts, a Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce membership directory, dozens of letters from students at Donald Elementary School, newspapers and several other items of historical significance. The items will be on display in the Flower Mound library. Another time capsule will be buried soon at an undisclosed location, said Jack Jones, Flower Mound Director of Parks and Recreation. Among items buried will be information on the Summit Club, Women of Flower Mound, The Mound Corporation, plus copies of recent issues of the News Connection and the Flower Mound Leader. There will also be a guest list from Saturday's event. Other activities Saturday included a jog led by the North Texas Striders, a walk led by Flower Mound's Seniors in Motion group and a scavenger hunt for youngsters.  

     Rapp, a former staff member who blazed the trail during the early days of Flower Mound's efforts to develop the project, and Lust, an active town leader in several capacities, including serving as mayor from 1988 to 1990, told the story of how trail construction became entwined in the town's growth.  Rapp explained that the town's first efforts in trail development were not fruitful. The city was offered a $670,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to acquire right of way and build 2-3 miles of trails over a pre-determined route that ended at FM1171.  Unfortunately, that route touched on 23 parcels of land, one of which had 16 owners.  Most were hostile to the idea of a trail on or adjacent to their properties, Rapp explained.  However, the seeds were planted as town leaders had an idea of what was involved in trail construction and how valuable an amenity they would be for residents.     

     Their opportunity came when a developer's architect suggested public trails as Town leaders brainstormed ways to preserve trees and create public access to property that had been part of Bob Rheudasil's tree farm on Morriss Road, a portion of which is now Wilkerson Park.  The Town Council liked the idea so much that it began to require  developers to not only set aside land, but also to build and dedicate trails as part of the development process. Lust described how determined city leaders had to convince unwilling developers to make the trails part of their construction process.  Eventually the developers realized how excited prospective buyers were to find houses that came near a safe beautiful place to take their jogging shoes, bicycles and baby carriages.  They became creative and enthusiastic supporters of the town's trail system. Mayor Smith explained that, with dedicated 4b sales tax support, the trails will not only be maintained, they will be extended and improved.