Seizing the green in greenways

Developers get ideas for future Rock Island Trail sections

Tracks on the former Rock Island Railroad right of way in Eldon are shown in this May 31, 2012, file photo.
Tracks on the former Rock Island Railroad right of way in Eldon are shown in this May 31, 2012, file photo.

The Missouri Rock Island Trail (MoRIT) organization held its annual meeting Tuesday night in the Cedar City Room.

The purpose of the night was two-fold: celebrate the opening of the first 47 miles of the Rock Island Trail in December, and begin to prepare for Ameren's gift of the next 144 miles of salvaged rail corridor later this year.

Once those new miles of salvaged rail paths are open for development, they can be invested in and built up beyond primitive dirt or gravel trails as public and private funding allows.

MoRIT Executive Director Greg Harris explained the purpose of highlighting where they are and where they hope to be is to foment networking and inspire people to strategize on how to take advantage of the economic development opportunities in their communities along the trail.

"This is a pot of gold," he said of the opportunities the Rock Island Trail would present.

"You can see, they're talking to each other now," he pointed out of members from different communities speaking with each other at the meeting - Warsaw with Belle, Kansas City with Sedalia.

The current 47 miles of reclaimed rail-to-trail system connects Pleasant Hill near Kansas City with Windsor, where the trail connects to the Katy Trail system.

In the future, the Rock Island Trail would connect to communities, including Eldon and Eugene, as it works its way east toward Beaufort, near Union, and the gateway of the St. Louis region, where it could eventually reconnect into the Katy Trail.

MoRIT members heard five speakers describe how trails and greenways are assets to their respective communities in multiple ways, but also that the benefits do not simply roll down the trail either.

"Don't expect 'if we build it, they will come,'" said Terry Whaley, executive director for Ozark Greenways in Springfield.

Whaley explained people have to get creative with attractions in their trail communities to spur economic growth resulting from increased foot and bicycle traffic.

In terms of infrastructure, he explained communities might explore offering various amenities to trail-goers, whether it be hot showers in converted corn cribs, simple camping areas and picnic shelters or even larger features like bicycle shops and cafes.

He also urged communities to develop their senses of identity and market their lifestyle and culture to visitors.

"It's a human story you've got to tell," he said. "Start talking to people and collecting stories."

"The real economic development future for these things is in health and fitness," he added.

After years of investments in local trail and waterfront areas, Warsaw City Administrator Randy Pogue highlighted how his community is seeing the benefits of these investments as "creating a quality of life-changer for our community."

Pogue noted people being more active, enjoying time with families and the lifestyle being attractive to families who looked to and ultimately moved to Warsaw, including a new school superintendent and a new basketball coach.

"You don't need to be training for a marathon," or commuting to work on a bicycle to utilize a trail system, Emma Klues explained. She is the communications director for Great Rivers Greenway in the St. Louis area.

She noted it's important for communities to understand who's using their trails, how and why, and allocating resources and infrastructure accordingly.