The Paducah Civic Beautification Board (CBB) is announcing the dates for the 60th Annual Dogwood Trail. This community tradition will be Sunday, April 7 through Saturday, April 13 with the judging of the dogwood trees and front door decorations by members of the CBB to occur on April 9. With homeowner coordination, they will place signs and banners in the yards of the winners. An awards ceremony will be May 14 at 5 p.m. during the Paducah Board of Commissioners meeting at City Hall. There will be a reception at City Hall before the meeting at 4:30.
This year, the Dogwood Trail is dedicated to the memory of Mary Hammond. Hammond, who served as Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director, was a member of the Paducah Civic Beautification Board for 37 years.
This year’s eight-mile lighted trail is spectacular both day and night. Reflective signs, designed by CBB Chair Carol Vanderboegh, are placed at each turn in the trail. Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can enjoy the beautiful dogwoods, flowering shrubs, and lovely landscaping in Paducah’s neighborhoods.
The Paducah Civic Beautification Board encourages the community to light up landscaping in yards and decorate front doors as ways to welcome friends and visitors to Paducah during the 60th Annual Dogwood Trail. This year, the CBB secured 60 new dogwood trees which have been planted throughout the city.
Dogwood Trail Trolley Ride - On Thursday, April 11, there will be a Dogwood Trail Trolley Ride. There are two rides on that date on a first come basis. The rides will be at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Each ride is $1.00 per person and departs from the Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) office located at 850 Harrison Street.
Dogwood Trail Bicycle Ride - To wrap up the week of Dogwood Trail activities, make plans to enjoy the Dogwood Trail Bicycle Ride. The free annual event will be Sunday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m. with riders departing from BikeWorld located at 809 Joe Clifton Drive. Bike helmets are required. This event, which has been held more than 30 years, allows riders to enjoy a leisurely ride along the Dogwood Trail and then back to BikeWorld. The course is approximately 11 miles with opportunities for riders to adjust the distance. After the ride, everyone is invited to enjoy a meal at BikeWorld. If there is rain or storms at the time of the ride, it will be postponed until April 21.
Dogwood Trail History – In 1964, when Dolly McNutt, chair of the Civic Beautification Board, visited Knoxville, Tennessee, she was taken by the beauty of Knoxville's lighted dogwoods. When she returned to Paducah, she persuaded members of the CBB that sponsoring a lighted dogwood trail would benefit Paducah. The first trail was two blocks long along Sycamore in Paducah's west end. The tour now is several miles in length showcasing Dogwood, Japanese Maple, Red Bud, and Weeping Cherry trees as well as blooming garden areas and other flowering species.
Dogwood Trail Map and Information
###
