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July 2008 |
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Trail Updates |
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Greenway Master Plan Update
The city of Lee's Summit, Mo., has completed its Greenway Master Plan Update (pdf), which was approved by the Park Board and City Planning Commission in the fall of 2007. The plan was originally adopted as part of the city's Comprehensive Plan in 1998. Park staff conducted four public meetings with the Greenway Master Plan Update Task Force. The meetings resulted in a proposed realignment of the primary greenway and connecting linkage, identification of priority projects and implementation strategies. The key concept is the 40-mile loop that connects the major parks, lakes and streamways in and adjacent to Lee's Summit. This loop preserves over 325 acres of important natural resource land and opens it to the public for passive and active recreation. Regional connections provide access to adjoining communities. A network of approximately 100 miles of trails, sidewalks and bike routes connect Lee's Summit's businesses, historic downtown and virtually every neighborhood to the loop. A Blueway concept will also be integrated into the plan, which will identify and develop access to water corridors (lakes, rivers, and streams) that can be used for recreation (canoeing, kayaking, etc.). The Lee's Summit Greenway Master Plan is a pivotal piece of the city's Green Solutions Initiative, combining resource preservation, greenway development and improved water quality with bicycle and pedestrian improvements. The results keep Lee's Summit safe, clean and green while providing connections locally, regionally and with the statewide Katy Trail. Rolling Ridge Trail Construction
The city of Olathe, Kan., has begun construction on the Rolling Ridge Trail, a pedestrian and bicycle trail that will begin at Oregon Trail Park and follow Little Cedar Creek to Prairie Center Park. Upon completion, the trail will be 10 feet wide, paved with asphalt and will span 2.5 miles. A .25-mile segment will be on the roadway along Sheridan Avenue. Rolling Ridge Trail will provide connections to two of Johnson County's longest trails, the Gary L. Haller Trail and the Indian Creek Bike and Hike Trail, which are both part of the MetroGreen system. The first phase of trail construction started in March and consists of the 1.25-mile segment from Prairie Center Park to Santa Fe Road. Construction on the second phase, the additional 1.25-mile segment from Santa Fe Road to Oregon Trail Park, will begin this month. Completion of the entire Rolling Ridge Trail is anticipated for late fall 2008. A KDOT Transportation Enhancement grant, the city of Olathe and the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District are funding this project. The KDOT funds will cover the cost of construction, land acquisition and utilities, while the city will be responsible for the design. The total project cost is $1,500,000.
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KCMO announces trail system name and logo |
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The Trails KC! name and logo will appear on trail system maps, promotional material and signage for the trail system outlined in the Trails KC! Plan (pdf). The plan includes an interconnected system of trails to serve pedestrians, recreational bicyclists, commuters and equestrians. Implementing the plan is a key component in achieving the city's goal to receive platinum designation from the American League of Bicyclists by 2020. The Trails KC! Plan has been reviewed at community meetings and will continue to be available for public comment via sessions scheduled in late summer/early fall. The new logo and draft of the Trails KC! Plan are available on the city's Web site. For more information, contact Shannon Jaax, project manager, City Planning and
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Resources |
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Rails-to-Trails Active Transportation Case StatementThe Rails-to-Trails Conservancy advocacy organization is spearheading a national movement called the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation, which aims to double federal funding for trails, walking and biking. In June 2008, MARC worked with local partners to draft and submit a case statement on how more funding for active transportation could benefit the Kansas City region by playing a larger role in meeting mobility needs. MARC is asking local and regional groups to send letters of support to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. These letters will support the Kansas City area's case statement submission and will help the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy garner legislative support for active transportation funding. If your organization is able to provide a letter of support, please contact Aaron Bartlett at abartlett@marc.org or (816) 701-8238. Submission deadline for letters of support is Friday, August 8.
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MetroGreen Alliance Profile |
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South Grand River Watershed Alliance The South Grand River Watershed Alliance (SGRWA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community about the importance of watersheds and actions that can be taken to protect them. The mission of SGRWA is to educate and involve the members of the community in preserving, restoring and protecting the waters and aquatic habitat of the South Grand River Watershed.
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Future Projects |
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Please send information about your community's trail projects so that we can share your MetroGreen and local trail system accomplishments. Contact Jennifer Blattman at jblattman@marc.org or (816) 701-8275.
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The South Grand River watershed spans eight counties in Missouri and two in Kansas. In the Kansas City region, the watershed covers over half of Cass County, Mo., and reaches into southern Johnson and eastern Miami counties in Kansas. The watershed drains a 2,046-square-mile area into the Truman Reservoir in Clinton, Mo.Upcoming Events |
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Green Commute Challenge Walk, bike, carpool, take the bus or telecommute to work and be part of MARC's AirQ/RideShare Green Commute Challenge. Participants can track their air pollution reduction activity miles to work. You can win prizes by calculating the amount of air pollution you prevented, earning points for your activities. Sunflower Nature Park Master Plan Public Meetings The Johnson County, Kan., Park and Recreation District invites members of the public to attend workshops meant to provide opportunities for input on new master plans for Sunflower Nature Park in Eudora, as well as two relatively large future park properties owned by the district in Olathe and De Soto. Cedar-Niles property Sunflower Nature Park and Rieke Lake property All three of these projects will impact the growth of the MetroGreen system. The Sunflower Nature Park and Rieke Lake sites have the potential to link to the K-10 Smart Trail and the Cedar Creek Greenway runs directly through the Cedar Niles site. 2008 Katy Trail Merchant Conference This free conference, offered by the Columbia Tourism Council and Missouri River Communities Network, will cover topics that are relevant to towns and merchants along the Katy Trail. The event will take place at Rocheport Community Hall, 503 3rd Street, Rocheport, Mo. If you are interested in attending the conference and would like to purchase a lunch for $7, please e-mail vistadorsey@gmail.com. Contact Maria Dorsey at (573) 256-2602, if you have any questions. Tour of Missouri This international professional cycling event features cyclists from more than 20 countries, representing 15 of the world's top teams that will compete while racing more than 600 miles through the cities and rolling hills of the Show-Me State. The first stage of the race, scheduled for September 8, begins in St. Joseph and ends in Kansas City. |
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