SWC Brainstorms Ways To Connect To Regional Trail System

Southwest City residents recently gathered to provide input regarding local pedestrian traffic problems and proposed pathways in town.

The meeting was led by Nikki Hill, a representative from the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council.

HSTCC is a Regional Planning Commission that collaborates with municipalities to prioritize development goals, identify relevant grants, submit applications and works to secure funding for improvement projects. In turn, cities pay an annual membership fee to the council.

Hill said she is in the final stages of completing grant applications for two undertakings. The first proposed project is a pedestrian bridge across Honey Creek, and the second is a nature trail in town.

She explained that, each year, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources offers a federally-funded grant to support development of recreational trails. If approved, the city would be required to provide 20 percent of the total building costs - whether it be in cash, volunteer labor, or donated supplies. Hill stressed the need for letters of support from the community and asked that anyone willing submit their statement to City Hall or email it to City Clerk Missy Zinn at swcclerk@ gmail.com.

To be successful, the projects would need community support in the form of a Project Steering Committee. Members would be responsible for maintaining trails and overseeing the continued connection of regional trails and local points of interest.

Those in attendance brainstormed ways to incorporate Southwest City into the regional trail system - most notably the Razorback Greenway in Northwest Arkansas - and what type of paths would best suit the community.

Hill then directed guests to enlarged maps of Southwest City located at each table. She asked them to mark local attractions on these maps, as well as possible recreation and nature trail paths.

Former mayor Joe Carpenter outlined a possible trail route through town that connected the elementary school to Blankenship Park, the Senior Citizen’s Center to both housing authorities, and repurposed the unused tennis courts on Academy Street into a basketball court and recreation area.

Amber Killion expressed the need for a footpath connecting Main Street to Blankenship Park without crossing the Highway 43 bridge over Honey Creek. She said her kids frequently visit the park to fish, run and play, and they have no choice but to cross the narrow, crumbling bridge.

Hill also spoke about clearing an educational nature trail north from Southwest City Elementary School to Honey Creek. The school uses the area for supplemental activities when possible. Designating the area would ensure it was secure and maintained.

Those in attendance collectively identified multiple points of interest in Southwest City, including Blankenship Park, Anne Croxdale Memorial Library, Southwest City Arts Center, and the tri-state marker denoting the point where Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma meet.

Connie Adams noted the tri-state marker regularly brings visitors into town. Adams said she recently encountered a group of women having lunch at the Corner Cafe who told her they were in town specifically to view the landmark.

Hill collected tentative ideas and proposed pathways to include in the city’s grant applications.

Another public meeting concerning recreational trail planning will be held in the coming months.