Trail group meets goal, deadline for challenge
By Gwendolynne Larson
Originally published 09:26 a.m., December 15, 2007
Updated 09:27 a.m., December 15, 2007
The Lyon County Division of the Kansas Rails-Trails Conservancy met its match challenge to secure $10,000 from the Trusler Foundation to develop a 4 1/2-mile stretch of trail between Allen and Admire.
“We came in at just under $11,000 when we hit our deadline of Dec. 1,” said Gina Poertner, KRTC president.
The challenge was announced in mid-September.
“It’s very encouraging to see such good support from Emporia and surrounding areas, as well as out-of-area people who travel here to use the trails.”
The Flint Hills Nature Trail stretches 117 miles from Herington to Osawatomie and is part of the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail.
In related news, a new organization, KanBikeWalk, held its first meeting Dec. 2 in Emporia. The group’s mission “is to promote a safe bicycling and walking environment for Kansans through education and advocacy.”
“Several of us have been talking for some time about starting this type of group after working with the successful Missouri Bicycle Federation on a variety of issues,” said Poertner, also president of KanBikeWalk. “This first year will be organizational in nature, setting up our structure and raising funds for operations.”
At the first meeting, bicycle, running and walking organization leaders along with representatives of the Kansas Department of Transportation attended.