Atchison – $250,000 in grant funds will soon find its way to the Atchison Riverfront. A letter received from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourismcongratulates the City of Atchison on the grant award following an application submitted through the federal Recreational Trails Program last October.
The Recreational Trails Program provides up to eighty percent matching funds, on a reimbursement basis, for eligible recreational trail and trail-related projects. The existing off-road trail on the Atchison Riverfront is just under 0.4 miles in length. The Riverfront Trail Extension Project will more than double that distance to the north, which is already a popular destination for local walkers, runners, and cyclists.
The $250,000 grant through the federal Recreational Trails Program will be further supplemented with funding from the Atchison Riverfront Foundation and the City of Atchison. The City’s 2017 Capital Improvement Program includes a $60,000 contribution to the project.
“The Atchison Riverfront is already one ofthe crown jewels of public space in the community,” said Bob Adrian, Chair of the Atchison Riverfront Foundation. “We’ve been working for a long time to find a way to fund this project and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
When fully constructed, the Riverfront Trail Extension will be an eight-foot-wide, concrete, multi-use trail spanning just under 0.5 miles along the west side of River Road from the southern boat ramp to just north of the City’s Raw Water Intake Pump Station.
“There are a lot of local people and local organizations who deserve credit for this award,” said Justin Pregont, Director of Public Works & Utilities.” The grant application for this project included letters of support from dozens of local civic groups, businesses, and institutions, not to mention the overwhelming public support that came through social media. That kind of public support is hard to say no to.”
The City expects the project to be built sometime in 2018. A full reconstruction of River Road from the north boat ramp to the City Limits, is expected to begin in the next few weeks. The River Road Reconstruction Project will be completed well before any work on the trail gets underway
