Springfield trail connection crosses former landfill/superfund site | KY3

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

What used to be a landfill in Springfield is finding new use.

The trail connection between miles three and four along the Fulbright Spring Greenway is complete, making nearly seven miles of continuous trails. This connection also goes over what used to be the Fulbright Landfill.

The city of Springfield operated the former landfill from 1962-1969, during which domestic and industrial wastes were accepted. The Ozark Greenways website goes on to explain how the “improper disposal created a very bad problem.” The Greenways website also stated, “in order to correct the problem, the 98-acre Fulbright Landfill was designated a Superfund site and added to EPA’s National Priority Listing in 1983 as a hazardous waste site.” In 1990, the City entered into an agreement with the EPA to host cleanup activities at the Fulbright site.

Since then, teams have excavated and removed trash and contaminated soil from the area, in addition to other measures. The city continues to monitor the site to ensure it meets accepted environmental standards. There are also trail signs posted on each end of the trail segment that crosses the former landfill/superfund site requesting that trail users stay on the trail.

Link: 

Springfield trail connection crosses former landfill/superfund site | KY3

MoBikeFed comment: We have previously mentioned the opening of this important new trail segment, and Ozark Greenways Executive Director Mary Kromrey gave an excellent summary of the difficult work to build the new trail segment through the former Superfund site at the 2020 Missouri Active Transportation Summit.

Still, it is well worth mentioning the opening of the trail again:

* It connects several key destinations north of Springfield, including these:

- Ritter Springs Park
- Sac River Mountain Bike Trail
- David C. Murray Trailhead's Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach crossing point and kiosks
- Lost Hill Park's historic white farmhouse, rock chicken barn, natural bridges and caves
- The Watershed Center at Valley Water Mill Park has a beautiful lake and nature trail

* It is easily accessible from the nearby Frisco Highline Trail

* It crosses the historic Butterfield Stage route and has a historical marker with information about nearby Butterfield Stage history and showing the route of the new Butterfield Stage Experience bicycle route.

Find out more:

https://ozarkgreenways.org/explore/greenway-trails/fulbright-spring-gree...

https://www.417mag.com/outdoors/trails/fulbright-spring-greenway-springf...

https://mobikefed.org/ButterfieldStageExperience