Rails to trails

To the editor:

The 1½-mile Hillsboro hospital trail has been a great success.

People from all walks of life are using the recreational path for exercise and enjoyment of the outdoors.

The path partially uses the mostly undeveloped 33-mile Sunflower Santa Fe Trail, which was railbanked and conserved under the National Trails Act by Central Kansas Conservancy. 

The City of Marion could obtain federal grants to build a 4-mile recreational path to Marion Reservoir using the same rail corridor.

This trail would allow Marion residents to travel safely away from traffic to the lake.

Crushed limestone that packs down into a hard surface suitable for road bicycles and wheelchairs could be installed on top of the old railroad bed.

This trail would become an outstanding community asset that would benefit residents for generations to come.

Clark Coan
Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservation