Meadowlark Trail Opens, Connecting McPherson and Lindsborg
12-mile recreational path completes nearly three decades of development
MCPHERSON, Kan. — A 12-mile recreational trail connecting McPherson and Lindsborg opened this month, marking the completion of a project nearly 30 years in development by the Central Kansas Conservancy.
The Meadowlark Trail runs along the former Union Pacific Railroad corridor between the two communities, crossing 11 bridges and following a section of the Smoky Hill River's east bank. The paved trail accommodates walkers, runners and cyclists, offering residents of both cities a direct route between the communities while providing access to outdoor recreation in the region. Jill Bremyer, vice president of Central Kansas Conservancy, told Citizen Journal "the completion of the Meadowlark Trail from McPherson to Lindsborg is an accomplishment that will provide a beautiful setting for people of all ages and physical abilities to relax and connect with nature."
The Central Kansas Conservancy railbanked the corridor in 1997 and began construction on the first section around 2012. The nonprofit organization completed the final segment in December, fulfilling a decades-long vision to repurpose the abandoned rail line into a community asset. The trail's completion comes as municipalities across Kansas and the nation increasingly convert former railroad corridors into multi-use paths that support recreation, alternative transportation and economic development in rural areas.
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