TRAILS SUMMIT A SUCCESS. The Kansas Built Environment and Trails Summit held in Lawrence Oct. 18-19 was an outstanding success according to many participants. Nearly 150 trails enthusiasts registered for the Trails Summit portion held on the second day. Sid Stevenson, a Kansas State University professor, stated that one result of the conference could be a coalition of user groups which can push for more trails. He also mentioned that there are 670 trails in Kansas he has identified. Conference attendees learned about (a) trails success stories; (b) trail construction and maintenance; (c) rails-to-trails; (d) urban trail building; (e) water trails planning; (f) trail equipment; (g) and fundraising. It was an excellent opportunity to network and see what others are doing in developing trails in the Sunflower State. Kudos go to Kansas Recreation and Parks Association Executive Director Doug Vance, Prof. Sid Stevenson, State Parks Director Jerry Hover and many others for their hard work in putting on this conference.
RECFINDER FOR TRAILS. At the conference Sid Stevenson revealed his new database of 670 trails in the Sunflower State. Kansas has a wide variety of trails including single-track hiking trails; single-track hiking trails; nature trails; rail-trails; multi-use paths; equestrian trails; and water trails. To access this database go to the Kansas Trails Council website and click on their links section. Then scroll down to Kansas Recreational Trails Finder. A national database of recreational trails is also available online.
EL DORADO BIKE TRAIL. One of the success stories presented at the Trails Summit was the El Dorado Bike Trail. This recreational pathway was partly constructed on an abandoned Union Pacific rail right-of-way and stretches four miles from East Park to El Dorado Lake and State Park. The concrete pathway goes through two tunnels, one of which goes under a BNSF overpass. The scenic trail crosses the picturesque Walnut River and was constructed in two phases, the first of which was completed in 1999.
UPDATE ON LANDON TRAIL IN TOPEKA. Construction continues on the Landon Trail within the Topeka city limits. A 10-foot-wide concrete path is being built from near 17th & Monroe to 25th St. The City of Topeka is applying for a federal Transportation Enhancement grant to extend the recreational pathway to 37th Street. However, Congress and KDOT have slashed TE funding for Kansas by 61 percent, so competition for these limited funds is now very high. The City leases 4.65 miles of the 38-mile Landon Trail from Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy.
TRAIL WALK A SUCCESS. Over 40 trail users walked, biked or rode horses on the Osawatomie section of the 116-mile Flint Hills Nature Trail on October 6. Experience shows that once people get out onto a trail and enjoy recreating and viewing nature, they often volunteer to work on trails and push for more trails. A recent article with photos and a trail map in the Osawatomie newspaper has generated mostly positive publicity for the trail. In addition, in November an award-winning chapter of Future Farmers of America will work on the trail west of Rantoul. Finally, the Osawatomie Division of the Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy is planning to complete the trail between Rantoul and Osawatomie by late March.