Meridian Bridge, parks ready to celebrate National Trails Day

YANKTON, S.D. — The Yankton Meridian Bridge Centennial task force invites the public out to beautiful Riverside Park to celebrate National Trails Days, 10 a.m.-noon, April 27.

On the fourth Saturday of every April, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, invites everyone to get outside for their annual spring celebration of America’s trails. Yankton’s celebration will have you stop at the Yankton Territorial Capitol Replica building to start your morning of adventure tours. There will be three tours to take part in on April 27. The staffed tour will take you up onto the historic Meridian Bridge to listen to four National Park Service Rangers talk about the bridge, the river, and the culture surrounding both.

There will also be two self-guided tours available. Loop 1 is through Riverside Park and contains 16 stops to enjoy the art and history found in the park. Loop 2 is through the Meridian Bridge Plaza and a walk over both the upper and lower deck of the Meridian Bridge to enjoy the art and history found in these areas. Loop 2 has 21 stops with a bonus 22nd stop for those feeling even more adventurous.

There will be water, fruit, and granola bars available in the Capitol Replica Building. You can enter your name to win a Meridian Bridge Centennial prize package. The Centennial merchandise will be available that morning also.

The two self-guided tours are recorded on sheets of paper so if you cannot do the tours that morning, you can take the papers and utilize them at your convenience.

Sunday, April 28, will be the date if there is inclement weather on Saturday.