Kansas Sampler a Success. Sunflower Recreational Trails, Inc. participated in the Kansas Sampler (held May 3-4 in Concordia) with an attractive booth promoting trails in Kansas. SRT members supported the establishment of more recreational trails in the Sunflower State by talking with literally hundreds of people. Almost all comments from passersby were positive and interest in building more trails in Kansas was high. The Kansas Sampler promotes Kansas travel and tourism. SRT also held its annual meeting at the Cloud County Community College in Concordia on the second day of the event.
Prairie Spirit Trail to Open June 7. The final segment of the 52-mile trail will open on National Trails Day which is June 7 this year. An opening ceremony will be held at the trailhead in Iola (Cofachique Park, located north of US 54 along old US 169). This will be an exciting milestone in the history of rail-trails in Kansas. Soon trail users will be able to bike or hike all the way from Ottawa through the city of Iola.
Prairie Sunset Trail Construction Progresses. Prairie Travelers, Inc. reports that approximately 2.5 miles of the Prairie Sunset Trail will be rocked with crushed limestone by the end of June. The trail work will be performed both east and west of Goddard. The City of Goddard itself is still hasn't built its section of trail within the city limits but it received a federal TE grant from KDOT for this project.
Landon Nature Trail Update. The Landon Trail Division of Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy is working hard to get the Shawnee County portion of the 38-mile Landon Nature Trail completed as soon as possible. A bridge northwest of the Clinton Wildlife Area recently was decked with concrete. The Kansas Wildscape Foundation gave a grant to build the trail within the Clinton Wildlife Area. Once the wildlife area section is completed, the trail in the county will be finished. It is not known why the contractor for the City of Topeka still hasn't completed the street crossings for the concrete work for a section of the Landon Trail within the city limits.
Homestead Trail Moving Forward. Marshall County Connections hopes to take possession of the Kansas portion of the Homestead Trail soon. The Nebraska Trails Foundation is transferring the corridor to the Marysville-based organization. MCC hopes to get the Homestead Trail completed from Marysville two miles north by this fall. The City of Marysville will probably start construction on its connecting trail next spring.