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Towns along Rock Island Trail work to maximize economic benefits of trail, to be turned over the MO State Parks later in 2017 - Gasconade County Republican

Submitted by Brent Hugh on Thu, 06/22/2017 - 11:23am

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The trail already links with the Katy Trail on the first 47 miles completed from Pleasant Hill to Windsor.

Many community members in Owensville and surrounding areas are already working towards the economic development of the trail. First Street property in Owensville has been purchased with an eye towards a bicycle repair shop. The community is really hoping for a safe route to school option that students could begin walking to school on the trail. MoRIT Executive Director Greg Harris said there is a lot of economic development going on right now and the Department of Tourism is trying to set up a meeting.

“This is really the biggest thing that has happened to so many of these former railroad towns since the railroad left 30 years ago,” Harris said.

Of the 191 miles of trail from Pleasant Hill to Beaufort, an estimated 30 miles are within the city limits of a town or city. Community members in towns along the path are purchasing property to develop for trail users. That has resulted in an increase in real estate values.

Through Bland, Bruce Sassmann has been working to update a store front of a building he purchased. The Belle community has received more than $100,000 in grants to complete the trail to DNR specifications and downtown beautification projects. Peth said he is hopeful of the economic impact the trail will have.

Link: 
Towns along Rock Island Trail work to maximize economic benefits of trail, to be turned over the MO State Parks later in 2017 - Gasconade County Republican
MoBikeFed comment: More about the development and current status of the Rock Island Trail on our Rock Island Trail page:

http://MoBikeFed.org/RockIslandTrail

More about MoRIT's efforts to unify communities along the trail here:

http://rockislandtrail.org/

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