Author: FLAT

We had a great time at the 2023 Lawrence Juneteenth Celebration. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Friends of Lawrence Area Trails table!

Identified as a priority in  Plan 2040 , Douglas County has launched an 18-month planning process to establish the Douglas County Open Space Plan. Through this planning process the county will gather community input that will help shape the Open Space Plan. Douglas County wants to hear your vision for how open spaces could be preserved … Continue reading “Douglas County Open Spaces Planning In Progress”

If you have driven west of Iowa Street on Clinton Parkway lately you may have noticed construction beginning on the Crossing at KU. According to the project website “The Crossing at KU brings together academia, citizens and visitors to seed innovation, spur curiosity and strengthen the entire community. A mixed-use development with retail, dining and … Continue reading “New Trails at the Crossing at KU”

A newly constructed trail segment has been added to the DeVictor Park Trail. The new trail runs from the northwest side of the DeVictor Trail and extends from Stonecreek Drive to Legends Drive.

There are a number of trail options on the north shore of Clinton Lake. The North Shore Trails run along the north shore of the lake from the Overlook Park through Clinton State Park. The trails pass through oak and hickory forests and follow the lake shore. Bluebirds, beaver, foxes and coyotes can been seen. … Continue reading “Get Out There: Clinton North Shore Trails”

The Lawrence Mountain Bike Club (LMBC) was recently awarded a “Trails Accelerator Grant” from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). LMBC partnered with Friends of the Lawrence Area Trails (FLAT) and Friends of the Kaw (KAW) to apply for the grant. The project will study the potential to build new mountain bike trails in an … Continue reading “Trails Accelerator Grant Awarded for Cameron’s Bluff Trail”

Overview The George Latham trail is a 4.2 loop trail on the west side of Clinton Lake. The trail provides great views of the lake and a chance to view Bald Eagles during certain times of the year. The wide variety of terrain (flat sections, hilly and rocky sections, forested areas, open fields) makes this … Continue reading “Get Out There: George Latham Hiking Trail”

There are many exciting trail enhancements, construction, and planning slated for this year. Here is a summary of those plans. Lawrence: Lawrence Loop — North Michigan Street to Sandra Shaw Park This section will extend from North Michigan Street, to Sandra Shaw Park near Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Easement and property acquisitions are underway and are … Continue reading “A Look Ahead to 2023 Trail Plans”

The expansion of the South Lawrence Trafficway (K-10) to a 4-lane freeway from US-40 (6th St) south and east to US-59 (Iowa St) is moving forward to construction in 2024. KDOT and their design consultant, HNTB, recently presented a walkthrough of the planned improvements to the Lawrence City Commission. The construction will impact Lawrence Loop … Continue reading “KDOT Reveals Plans That Impact Trail Crossings”

The City has approved finishing the Lawrence Loop as part of the five year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Details and history are in the Multi-modal Transportation Commission Report, which is linked below. The projects are: Peterson Park to Michigan Street —  nearly completed Michigan Street to Sandra Shaw Park — 2023 & 24 8th Street … Continue reading “Plans to Complete the Lawrence Loop In Place”

The new Peterson Park to North Michigan Lawrence Loop construction is nearing completion. The tunnel under the turnpike entrance at McDonald drive is in the finishing stages. The concrete work is complete. A fence has been installed along the path near North Michigan. The velvet weeds have been removed and grass and small evergreen trees … Continue reading “Newest Lawrence Loop Construction Near Completion”

Devictor Park, in west Lawrence, is located north of 15th St. and George Williams Way. It is east of the Langston Hughes Elementary School. It is a 40 acre green-belt park that features a 2.62 mile loop trail. 2.2 miles is a paved trail and 0.4 miles is a rustic nature trail. The paved portions … Continue reading “Get Out There: DeVictor Park Trails”

The Lawrence City Commission has approved the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the years 2023 – 2027 that includes a number of projects for the Lawrence Loop and area trails. The projects in the CIP serve as a plan for 2023 and roadmap for future years. Trail Project Plans for 2023 Construction of the Lawrence … Continue reading “City Commission Approves Future Loop and Trail Plans”

Gorgeous trails and views await you at the KU Field Station, located just 6 miles north of Lawrence. It features 5 miles of public nature trails and is open daily dawn to dusk. You’ll want to pack water and snacks because there is a lot to explore. The Field Station contains five nature trails: Stan … Continue reading “Get Out There: KU Field Station”

During the Lawrence City Commission’s June 21 discussion of the City’s draft Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), several Commissioners expressed the need to include funding for construction projects that would complete the Lawrence Loop by 2027. Projects being considered in the proposed CIP include: 2023/2024 construction of the Lawrence Loop section from Michigan Street to … Continue reading “Lawrence City Commissioners Express Support for Completing the Lawrence Loop by 2027”

The City of Lawrence has identified the Lawrence Loop as one of two city projects that would benefit from a targeted funding strategy in a new report. The City is working with TFG/The Ferguson Group to develop a grant writing strategy.  TFG presented it’s Federal Funding Needs Assessment report at the June 21 City Commission meeting. … Continue reading “City of Lawrence Grant Writing Strategy Highlights Lawrence Loop”

Progress continues on the construction of the Lawrence Loop from Peterson Park to North Michigan Street. New concrete paths on either side of McDonald Drive have been poured. One of these sections begins in Peterson Park at the corner of Peterson Road and North Iowa Street and crosses Iowa before passing north of the Hallmark … Continue reading “Construction Continues on the Newest Loop Segment”

The majority of the concrete and dirt work on the new Peterson Park to North Michigan Street Lawrence Loop is complete. Work in preparation for the tunnel on the Michigan side of the turnpike is in ongoing. A crane is in place on the east side of the turnpike above the work site. Construction of … Continue reading “New Lawrence Loop Construction Update”

The Conrad & Viola McGrew Nature Preserve is a hidden gem within the city limits. At its heart is a very pretty and serene trail that winds behind houses and townhomes. Trail access from the south is just west of the corner of Bob Billings Parkway and Inverness Drive. Trail access from the north is … Continue reading “Get out there: Conrad & Viola McGrew Nature Preserve”

The City of Lawrence maintains more than 4 miles of trails at the Rock Chalk Park complex in West Lawrence. This includes almost a mile of concrete trail and more than 3 miles of gravel (aggregate) trails.

Work is progressing on the newest section of the Lawrence Loop. The new trail segment begins at Peterson Park and continues east to Michigan Street. Peterson Park is located at the intersection of Peterson Road and North Iowa Street. A concrete paver machine in now in place in Peterson Park. Work is underway north of … Continue reading “Peterson Park to Michigan Street Loop Section Under Construction”