Meadowlark Trail: McPherson to Lindsborg Completion
Status:
Active
Town:
Countywide
Mastermind McPherson County Priority:
Community Health
Contact:
Sharon Long
Organization Name:
Central Kansas Conservancy
Start Date:
October 1, 2022
End Date:
October 31, 2024
Grants Awarded:
$5,000
Proposal Summary
Central Kansas Conservancy is a 501(c)3 corporation operated entirely by volunteers and donations. CKC promotes healthy lifestyles by providing safe places for outdoor exercise away from traffic by converting local unused rail lines into public trails.
CKC maintains right of way to 46 miles of rail banked trail, including the 12.6-mile Meadowlark Trail between Lindsborg and McPherson. Over the past ten years, CKC has developed sections of the trail. Today there are only two miles yet to develop. CKC is seeking funds for the final two miles of trail.
Completed sections of the trails are already available to everyone so that citizens of and visitors to McPherson County might get outside and walk, run, or bicycle. Once completed, the trail will be a corridor for free and safe bicycle, pedestrian, and equine traffic between the two communities.
Community Impact & Accomplishments To-Date
The long-term impact expected by Central Kansas Conservancy (CKC) is public use and support for the Meadowlark Trail. This impact has already begun with potions of the trail previously completed. CKC has witnessed more and more people using the trail. Both volunteer hours and donations from residents of both McPherson and Lindsborg have increased. CKC will continue tracking volunteer hours and donations.
CKC can and at various times has tracked usage by placing trail cameras in key locations of the trail.
CKC developed an “Adopt-a-Mile-of-Trail” program and has experienced excellent success with several local businesses that have adopted sections of trail and are now maintaining those miles of trail. CKC is seeking additional businesses to adopt other miles so that trail maintenance will be manageable.
In addition to these successes, the City of McPherson sought and received two grants to develop a sidewalk along Northview Road (in McPherson) to the southern Meadowlark Trail trailhead, to encourage trail access. This demonstrates public support for the future of the Meadowlark Trail.
Why do you think this project is necessary?
Lindsborg and McPherson have and maintain city parks but there are no outdoor built environments outside of the cities to provide exercise or recreation. The Meadowlark Trail will meet this need.
A city-to-city trail will have three benefits. First, a pedestrian connection between the towns will provide economic boosts. Other destination trails across the United States have demonstrated economic benefits in their locations.
The second is safety. The road between the towns is a narrow two-lane highway with neither shoulder nor pedestrian right-of-way, making pedestrian travel hazardous. This project will complete a pedestrian-only trail between the two communities, giving users safe transportation from city to city.
Third, the trail is an amenity for recreation and exercise. The Center for Disease Control warns of rising obesity and diabetes. It is increasingly necessary to provide enjoyable exercise opportunities. The trail is open for free public use all year and is ADA-compliant.
People Working On The Project
No Member is attached to this project
WE NEED HELP WITH
Contact Organizer
Sharon Long