Commission considering city greenway partnership

A jogger passes by a bench while enjoying the Jefferson City Greenway Trail along Edgewood Drive on
Wednesday afternoon, June 25, 2014.
A jogger passes by a bench while enjoying the Jefferson City Greenway Trail along Edgewood Drive on Wednesday afternoon, June 25, 2014.

The Cole County Commission is considering a proposal from the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission to partner to build a greenway connector at County Park.

Last month, the Parks Commission set aside $75,000 for construction of the connector. However, at the County Commission's Tuesday meeting, Parks Director Todd Spalding said the cost now is estimated around $50,000, and he hopes the county will consider paying up to half of that amount.

The County Commission already gave the Parks Commission the right of way needed to help design the project.

In June, the Parks Commission reviewed a $48,508 contract with Sam Gaines Concrete Inc. to build the 500-600 feet of trail to connect Fairground Acres to County Park and put the project on hold, pending Spalding having a conversation with the County Commission.

Commissioners said they liked the idea, but it was a matter of determining where the money would come from before they could make a decision.

Spalding said it was possible they could secure grant funding to help with costs.