$1 million raised for Rock Island Trails project

Nearly $1 million has been raised for the Rock Island Trails project, a 144-mile rails-to-trails project touching more than 20 towns in central Missouri.

In December 2019, Missouri State Parks signed an interim trail use agreement with Ameren and Missouri Central Railroad Company, donating the 144-mile Rock Island Line Corridor to the state for the buildout of a hiking and biking trail. The agreement gives Missouri State Parks until Dec. 31 to raise $9.8 million to ensure the rails-to-trails project has support and funding.

Mike Sutherland, deputy department director for the Department of Natural Resources and the former director of Missouri State Parks, said he is hopeful they can get the project on track.

“We are hopeful that we don’t have to extend the deadline, but there is a possibility that we may need to extend due to COVID-19 and some other challenges,” Sutherland said.

The $9.8 million would cover site preparation, signage, security equipment, insurance and liability costs, fencing for property owners, bridge repairs and maintenance, staffing, park ranger vehicles and the initial trail development.

“There’s some bridges and tunnels and those are going to be the largest single expense,” said John Riddick, president of the Missouri State Parks Foundation.

On July 10, 2019, Gov. Mike Parson signed Senate Bill 196, prompting the creation of the Rock Island Endowment Fund and allowing individuals and organizations to make donations for the project.

Riddick said all of the funds raised have come from private donations. If the state is unable to meet its deadline, all funds raised will be refunded or transferred to a new trail sponsor.

Once the money is raised, DNR will assume ownership of the corridor and begin working on the Rock Island Trail. Fully developing the Rock Island Trail is estimated to cost up to $85 million, not including operation and maintenance.

Upon completion, the 144-mile Rock Island Trail State Park would create the opportunity to develop a 450-mile statewide trail loop by connecting to more than 240 miles of Katy Trail State Park.

“I joined the department in the year 2000, and actually, my wife and I lived in Bridgeport on the Katy Trail, so I’ve seen the conversion of that project and the benefits it’s provided to the

community,” said Dru Buntin, DNR director. “I’m hopeful and optimistic that we can figure out a path forward that will allow development of the Rock Island Corridor into a trail.”

The corridor would pass through 91 locations in Missouri state parks, and about 10 percent of the corridor passes through the limits of cities or towns. According to the Missouri State Parks Foundation website, 41 percent of Missourians will live within 50 miles of the expanded trail network.

The 21 cities and towns that would become available trailside on the Rock Island corridor are: Beaufort, Leslie, Gerald, Rosebud, Owensville, Canaan, Bland, Belle, Freeburg, Argyle, Meta, Henley, Eugene, Etterville, Eldon, Barnett, Versailles, Stover, Cole Camp, Ionia and Windsor.