The City of Ottawa is applying for federal Transporatation Enhancement stimulus funds to build a segment of the Flint Hills Nature Trail in eastern Ottawa. The City believes it can complete the remainder of the trail within the city limits using city funds. Funding permitting, the Osawatomie Division of the Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy (KRTC) hopes to complete the Flint Hills to Ottawa this year (from Osawatomie).
The KRTC Board of Directors approved a resolution designating the organization as the Primary Advocate for this Topeka-Lawrence trail. The trail will utilize the Landon Nature Trail from Topeka to the Clinton Wildlife Area. Public lands on the north side of Clinton Lake will be used for the trail to reach the Clinton State Park and the SLT Hike and Bike Path in Lawrence. A committee is in the process of identifying the exact route. Once the route is selected, design work for the trail will begin. The trail will form a segment of the Quad States Trails Network which traverses MINK (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas).
Community support by towns lining the Flint Hills Nature Trail continues to grow. Admire's city park, located about one block north of the trail provides drinking water and restroom facilities in all seasons except winter. Admire Community PRIDE has been given an old freight depot which it hopes to relocate to a site adjacent to the trail in Admire. The depot could become a community museum with meeting space. The building may provide water and restroom facilities to augment the existing facilities. The Flint Hills Trail between Admire and Bushong is now complete. There will be a Fall Festival in the village on September 19. Trail enthusiasts are encouraged to attend this event and walk, bike or horseback ride the trail.
The Iowa Trail Council is still looking for individuals or a group to develop the Lyons, Kansas to Beaver, Kansas Trail dubbed the Quivira Trail. Bicyclists, walkers, and equestrians in the Lyons or Great Bend area are encouraged to initiate this project. If you or anyone you know, might be interested in this project, contact Clark Coan at 785/842-3458 or clarkcoan@yahoo.com.
The KRTC has announced it has established a new division for its Flint Hills Trail. The Osage County Division will extend from Lomax Junction (where the Landon Trail joins the Flint Hills, west of Pomona town) to the Lyon County line. Delores and Virgil Scheid will be the division superintendents. Current plans are to develop the trail from US 75 to Osage City. The trail is already developed east of US 75 to southeast of Vassar (south side of Pomona Lake). KRTC has allocated $7,000 for trail development and is seeking funds to match that amount.