Trent McCown, Prairie Spirit trail manager, reports that the Pottawatomie Creek Bridge on the 51-mile Prairie Spirit Trail north of Garnett has been rebuilt and that trail segment is now open to the public. Signs will be posted at self-pay stations to inform visitors that the trail is now open between Garnett and Richmond.
Owen Harbison, Maries Des Cygnes Division of Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy, is proposing to use either a railroad flatcar or boxcar for a bridge on the Flint Hills Nature Trail. The railroad car would replace a burned bridge near the town of Pomona. A boxcar would serve as a unique covered bridge, possibly the first one in the nation on a rail-trail. Since a trail supporter is willing to donate a railroad flatcar for the project, this is the likely candidate.
Steve O'Neal with Marshall County Connections, reports that the red roof covered bridge on the 12-mile Big Blue Rail-Trail Marysville has recently been completed and the first two miles of the trail have opened. Once completed to the Nebraska state line, the rail-trail will connect with the Homestead Trail. This long-distance trail, which is nearing completion, will extend to Lincoln and another trail will extend to Omaha.
Planning is underway for the 800 soldiers in Ft. Riley's First Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment to hike the 117-mile Flint Hills Nature Trail from Osawatomie to Herington. The battalion has just returned from Bagdad and is now on r and r. Training exercises will begin soon and these often involve long-distance hikes. The hike on the FHNT will be over five days in late April. Herington is the partner community for the battalion.
Sunflower Recreational Trails has launched a fundraising campaign to fund its efforts to create a network of rail-trails in the Sunflower State. Unless out-of-service rail corridors are conserved and developed, they are lost forever. Please consider giving a generous donation to SRT during this holiday season. Future generations will be thank you for your foresight.