Click this link for: Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy’s Fall 2011 newsletter

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

KANZA REACHES 50 MILEMARK. Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy as completed 50 miles of trail! This remarkable achievement has Been reached within only ten years. Plus, the Conservancy has raised over $750,000 in grants during the same period, so the average cost of trail development has been $15,000 per mile which is far less than what was spent on the Prairie Spirit Trail by the State of Kansas. This achievement is even more remarkable when one realizes that the 117-mile Flint Hills Nature Trail is the longest rail-trail in America being developed by a nonprofit organization.

Recently, the organization received a $23,000 supplemental grant from the WS & EC Jones Trust, Bank of America, Trustee, to complete a 23-mile section between Council Grove and east of Admire and a $18,000 grant from the Lattner Family Foundation to complete 3-mile stretch of the Landon Nature Trail south from Overbrook. Plus, a re-designation of $21,000 in funds will allow the completion of a 10-mile section of the Flint Hills Trail from US 75 west of Vassar to Quenemo. These projects should be completed by the end of the summer.  

THREE BRIDGES TRAIL IN MARQUETTE PROGRESSES. Marquette City Clerk Fred Peterson reports, “We had a Marquette trail work day last Saturday, January 28, 2012. Even the Mayor showed up along with 15 other people to trim trees, clear brush, and pick up trash or debris. Our monthly public interest meetings and continual education of the city council and articles in the newspaper is starting to pay off. Our Public Works Director is even grading part of the west end of the trail. We also applied for a $25,000 grant from the Sunflower Foundation.”

MARCH 3 SPRING SRTC MEETING. The Spring 2012 meeting of Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy will be held on Saturday, March 3 in Cottonwood Falls at the Grand Central Hotel. Items for discussion include the Railbanking Initiative (5 of the 6 rail corridors have been railbanked) and the revised Good Neighbor Policy. The meeting will begin at 11:00 a.m. All trails enthusiasts are invited. After the meeting adjourns at 2:00 pm, there will be a field trip to a newly-opened section of the Flint Hills Nature Trail which cuts through tallgrass covered hills.

BLACK HOOF PARK AND LAKE LENEXA. The following is excerpted from KRPA Today, Winter, 2012.

“Just a few miles off K-7 on Monticello Road in Lenexa and nestled in the forest among rock outcroppings, is the beautiful Lake Lenexa and the recently completed Black Hoof Park. The 240-acre park with its 35-acre lake centerpiece, represents a harmonious balance between nature sanctuary and recreational destination, and is Lenexa’s leading example of the city’s focus on sustainability.

“Black Hoof Park, which was named in honor of the Second Chief Black Hoof of the Shawnee Indian tribe, was construction as a Rain to Recreation project aimed at reducing flooding, preserving the woodlands and streamways, and providing new recreational and educational opportunities for the community. In addition to Lake Lenexa, the park features three wetlands…and five miles of trails connect the lake to surrounding neighborhoods along protected streamways.”

“(T)here are many new sustainable elements and features, and has enhanced the park’s reputation as a recreation destination for the entire family….[T]hese include a nature-themed destination play area, which blends traditional play structures with natural features. The play area invites children and adults to connect with nature through a play stream, climbing boulders, stepping stones, balance logs and educational opportunities. Equipment in the new play area offers a wide variety of exercise options for all ages and features spinners, a zip-line track and the tallest slide in Lenexa.”

The park is located at 9053 Monticello Road in Lenexa.

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY IS JUNE 2.

Excerpted from the American Hiking Society’s website:

“National Trails Day^® is a celebration of trails that evolved from the report of President Ronald Reagan's President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps…America's 200,000 miles of trails allow us access to the natural world for recreation, education, exploration, solitude, inspiration, and much more. Trails take us to good physical and mental health by providing us with a chance to breathe fresh air, get our hearts pumping, and escape from our stresses.”

Register your trail event at:

http://www.americanhiking.org/NTDRegisterYourEvent.aspx

SEA LIFE AQUARIUM TO OPEN IN KC APRIL 6.

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) – January 24, 2012

Sea Life KC, Kansas City's first large scale aquarium, will finally receive the 130,000 gallons of water it takes to fill it up. The aquarium will house 5,000 different species of sea life including sharks.

Visitors will be able to walk through underwater tunnels to get a fully immersed experience.

"I like the immersion experience - the face that you walk in the door, you feel like you're in an underwater environment," said Aaron Sprowl, the curator for Sea Life KC.

The "theming," or underwater dwellings, were each made to resemble coral reef and other ocean plant life. The water is designed to mimic tropical water.

"We'll have our first fish arrive at the beginning of March," Sprowl said.

Experts said it will take 30 days for the fish to transition into the tank. The water filling process is expected to take two days.

"I've worked with many different aquariums. One of my favorite things about the Sea Life franchise is the theming concept, "Sprowl said.

The aquarium opens in April. Admission will range from $19 for adults and $12 for children.

Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.

It will open in Crown Center.

KANSAS RIVER WATER TRAIL PROPOSED. “Establishing the Flint Hills area as a new easement-based Flint Hills Conservation Area and a proposed Kansas River Water Trail are among 100 projects nationwide that are highlighted in a new report — two in every state — as part of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative to establish a 21st century conservation and recreation agenda and reconnect Americans to the outdoors… The Kansas River is a unique natural resource for Kansas and provides an attractive regional recreational opportunity. Over two million people live in the various cities and towns along the river, from the Kansas City metro area west to Junction City. The designation and development of a “Kansas River Water Trail” is a high priority for the Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, and would be the state’s first public water trail.

—Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, US Dept. of Interior news release 11-01-11.

Clark H. Coan
Public Information Specialist
Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy, Inc.
P.O. Box 44-2043
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-3458

January 18, 2012

KATY TRAIL EXTENSION TO KCMO BEING BUILT. The KC Star (1-13-12) reports that 3.2 miles of the Katy Trail extension trail called the Rock Island Trail being built to the Kansas City Metro Area is now complete.  The trail will run from Pleasant Hill to Windsor where it connects with the famous Katy Trail. The trail is being railbanked under the National Trails Act and will be constructed on the railroad bed instead of within the right-of-way as originally planned. This will reduce costs by about 50 percent because new bridges won’t have to be constructed. It is estimated that it will take three years to complete the Rock Island Trail to Pleasant Hill. Then efforts can begin to extend it to Lee’s Summit. Eventually it will connect with the MetroGreen trail network so that trail users will be able to ride all the way from Kansas City to St. Louis.

IOLA TRAIL SEGMENT ON TRACK.  Chris Weiner, resident of Iola and on the SRTC board, reports that due to the warm winter, the City of Iola has been able to start construction on the 1.5-mile Prairie Spirit Trail Extension segment lying within the city limits. Concrete is being poured for the base and asphalt will be laid on top. If the good weather holds, it should be finished by the end of March. Otherwise it will be completed by the end of May. Thrive Allen County has applied for two grants to build the remaining portion of the Prairie Spirit Trail Extension (6.5 miles)l south to Humboldt.

TRAILS FOR SCENIC BYWAYS. Becky Pepper, KDOT's bike-ped coordinator, reports that KDOT has applied for a federal grant to prepare a plan for building multi-use paths along official Kansas Scenic Byways. If the grant is received and funds become available for pathway development, some of these paths could possibly connect rail-trails. One example is the Prairie Trail Byway which could connect the Meadowlark Trail in Lindsborg with the undeveloped Quivira Trail which stretches 38 miles between Lyons and Beaver. Also, a path could be built along the Flint Hills Scenic Byway from the Flint Hills Nature Trail to the Tallgrass National Prairie Preserve. See: www.ksbyways.org

TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT FUNDS AVAILABLE AGAIN.  Becky Pepper, KDOT's bike-ped coordinator, reports that KDOT has decided that federal funding is now secure for another round of TE grants. The grant application deadline will probably be in either the summer or fall, 2012. Many Kansas cities and towns such as Topeka, Lawrence, Iola and Lindsborg, have used TE funds to be build rail-trails and other multi-use paths.

NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL PROGRAM FUNDS NOW AVAILABLE. Mary Hanson, outdoor recreation planner for the Omaha regional office of the National Park Service, reports that there isn't a Kansas state-imposed moratorium currently in place on using federal National Recreational Trail and Land and Water Conservation Fund Program funds for rails-to-trails projects. A state moratorium was imposed in the 1990s, but apparently has been lifted. Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism administers the funds.

KANZA RECEIVES $18,000 GRANT. Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy has announced that it has received an $18,000 grant from the Lattner Family Foundation based in Delray Beach, Florida to build a section of the Landon Nature Trail which stretches 38 miles between Topeka and Pomona Lake. “We are very excited about this generous grant from the Lattner Family Foundation,” offered Karl Umscheid, Overbrook Superintendent.

“We hope to start construction in the spring. Once this segment between Overbrook and Wolf Creek is completed we expect that the community of Overbrook will rally behind our efforts to complete the trail to Pomona Lake.”

The Landon Nature Trail crosses the Santa Fe National Historic Trail at Overbrook where trail swales (ruts) can be seen in the nearby cemetery. It is hoped a short side trail can be built to the swales and a community park which contains a lake.

LANDON TRAIL IN TOPEKA PROGRESSES.  The City of Topeka has completed the Landon Nature Trail in Topeka to 45th St. The trail crosses the Union Ferry Branch of the Oregon National Historic Trail north of SE 42nd St. A sign announcing this historic crossing could be placed on the Landon Trail. The next phase is from 45th to Sanneman Drive where KRTC’s section begins and is essentially completed to the Clinton Wildlife Area. The City of Topeka leases 4.6 miles from the Conservancy.

Clark H. Coan
Public Information Specialist
Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy, Inc.
P.O. Box 44-2043
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-3458

January 6 , 2011

GRANT AWARDED FOR SUNFLOWER AND MEADOWLARK TRAILS. Joye Walker with Central Kansas Conservancy reports that the friends groups of the Meadowlark Trail and the Sunflower/ Santa Fe Trail each received $1,000 from the McPherson County Community Foundation. The funds will be used to install limestone screening. In Galva it will be used in the first mile west of town. The McPherson Friends of the Trail group will be working on the Meadowlark Trail and will be laying screenings down in the first mile from the trailhead at McPherson on north.

The 33-mile Sunflower SF Trail crosses the historic Santa Fe National Historic Trail and the Chisholm Trail near Canton. Currently, the Meadowlark Trail has one mile of trail open, known as the “Sunset Walk” north of McPherson. At the northern end, the 13-mile Meadowlark Trail follows a portion of the Smoky Hiill River and connects with Lindsborg’s 2.5-mile paved Valkommen Trail. Just a short bike ride north of Lindsborg lies Coronado Heights Park where there are a series of mt. bike trails.

KANSAS & U.S. RAILS-TO-TRAILS STATISTICS. Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy, an umbrella group of local rails-to-trails organizations and a an information clearinghouse, has these new state statistics: There are now more than 10 completed rail-trails totaling 73 miles; seven partially developed rail-trails totaling 226 miles; and, over eight rails-to-trails projects totaling 175 miles in Kansas.

According to the national Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, there are now more than 20,000 miles on 1,600 rail-trails nationwide that are used by tens of millions of Americans every year.

SUNFLOWER RECEIVES BEQUEST. Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy has received a $1,000 bequest from Cecile Kellenbarger who, before she passed on, asked her husband, John Moore, to provide the funds to the Conservancy. Cecile was on the Board of Directors of SRTC and was instrumental in getting the Prairie Sunset Trail completed. SRTC President Larry Ross says, “We will use her generous bequest in our efforts to create an interconnected trail system in the Sunflower State. Cecile’s vision and legacy continue to this day.”

HIKING, MT. BIKING AT ILIFF COMMONS NEAR TOPEKA.
“Dr. Doug and Dorothy Iliff bought 80 acres from a developer to preserve the native woodlands and prairie in its native state. The prairie, after years serving as neglected pasture, is gradually being restored by burning and reinstitution of native species. Several miles of trails have been carved through the grass and woods to serve as walking, running, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking courses. A replica of Topeka’s original log cabin lies on the trails and is available for overnight visits by organized groups.
Wildlife includes deer, wild turkey, fox, bobcat, and the usual assortment of common critters. Red-tailed hawks and bald eagles patrol the prairie. Visitors are welcome from dawn to dusk every day of the year. Parking is available inside the entrance on the south side of NE 31st just east of Kincaid. Access to 31st is from Happy Hollow on the west, and K-4 on the east. Please respect the land, and do not take motorized vehicles past the barrier posts.”

--excerpted from www.doctoriliff.com. The preserve is located NE of Topeka on the north side of the Kansas River.

STATE TO BUY 700 ACRES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION.
Kansas wildlife department purchasing 700 acres of mined land for public recreation

By John Milburn - Associated Press — Associated Press, December 18, 2011

Topeka — An area of the state that was once mined for its lead and zinc deposits to fuel industrial production more than a century ago is getting a new life and purpose.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is purchasing some 700 acres in southeast Kansas that will be used for public recreation. Funding comes through a federal program that seeks to clean up contaminants left by 150 years of mining and smelting.

Members of the State Finance Council approved purchasing the land at $640 per acre in the Neosho River basin in Cherokee, Crawford, Labette and Neosho counties. The funds were from settlements with the companies that were responsible for the mining through the National Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration program.

RED HILLS TO BE PRESERVED. The Kansas Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is announced a new initiative to preserve 5,000 acres of the colorful Red Hills in southwest Kansas near Medicine Lodge. According to a letter sent to Legacy Club members, the Red Hills is the “only place in Kansas with vast mixed-grass prairies that serve as a stronghold for the lesser prairie chicken. We hope to protect 5,000 acres in the Red Hills trough conservation easements as well as restore high-priority streams. “

Ted Turner is privately conserving 43,000 acres where bison roam freely and black-footed prairie dogs once again pop up out of their dens and bark. The Z-Bar Ranch is a 42,479-acre property located along the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in the Red Hills of south-central Kansas near Medicine Lodge. There are more caves in the Red Hills or Gyp Hills than any other place in the Sunflower State.

Clark H. Coan
Public Information Specialist
Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy, Inc.
P.O. Box 44-2043
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-3458