Dear Friends –

The last 5 miles of the 22-mile Lawrence Loop will not be completed in 5 years unless you tell city commissioners to budget for it now.

At their July 10 meeting, commissioners will discuss possible changes to the city manager’s draft 2019 budget and 5-year capital improvement plan. The current draft budget and capital plan do not include funding for the engineering studies required to get completion of the Loop rolling. Engineering and planning work must begin now to unlock the community, health, recreational, environmental and social benefits that come with completing the Loop.

The city commission needs to hear the unified voice of trail supporters throughout Lawrence.

Please send a quick email to the Lawrence City Commission before noon on Tuesday, July 10. Address the email to bjwalthall@lawrenceks.org. This will ensure that your email is included in the materials commissioners and city staff review before the meeting.

Tell commissioners, in your own words, why you support investment in the Lawrence Loop.

A short message of 1-3 sentences is all that is needed.

Here are a few talking points to help you get started with your email. Please avoid copying and pasting this text though – include your own language and personal connections to the Loop and our community:

• Healthy, happy people. A safe, accessible Loop makes it easier for people of all ages and abilities to be reap the physical and mental health benefits of being active outdoors.
• A cleaner, greener future. Every mile that someone walks or bikes on the Loop, instead of driving, makes our air a little bit cleaner and reduces traffic congestion.
• Affordable transportation. Every member of our community deserves to have safe, low-cost ways to get to a job, school, grocery store and other everyday destinations.
• A vibrant local economy. Bike tourists, the fastest growing segment of the active tourism market, seek destination trails that connect them to natural and cultural gems.
• Critical success factors. Completion of the Loop also supports many of the critical success factors articulated by the city commission.
• Continuous investment. As a priority of the community, the Loop should be funded each year until all sections that are within city boundaries are completed.

Please act now. Don’t let this community priority go underfunded.

Sincerely,

Your Friends of Lawrence Area Trails Organizing Committee

Kate Dinneen
Suzan Hampton
Sarah Hill-Nelson
Marilyn Hull
Jeff Severin