Trail advocates recently let the Lawrence City Commission know that zero planned funding to complete the Lawrence Loop in 2021-2024 was unacceptable. And the commission listened!

Now we need your voice yet again. Here’s the latest:

Commissioners asked a budget work group, headed by Mayor Lisa Larsen and Commissioner Stuart Boley, to reconsider Loop funding — and bring a proposal back to the full commission for consideration.

The budget work group is now proposing restoring $700,000 in the capital plan to construct the Loop from 7th Street (near the Santa Fe Depot) to Constant Park (north of 6th and Kentucky) in 2021-2022. Of this amount, $400,000 is contingent upon the city receiving matching grant funding from outside sources. FLAT may do some private fundraising to help meet this matching challenge (more on that later).

While $700,000 is less than the amount for the Loop trail in last year’s capital plan, FLAT views this proposal as great progress. The city is facing a difficult budget year, and we appreciate going from zero projected funding a month ago to a proposed $700,000 in trail funding now.

On Tuesday night (July 9), the budget work group will present their proposal to the full city commission for consideration.

Please take a few minutes now to let the commission know you support this proposal. Send a quick email to city commissioners at ccagendas@lawrenceks.org. In your email:

• Thank Mayor Larsen and Commissioner Boley for proposing that $700,000 be included in the 2021-2022 Capital Improvement Plan for this critical section of the Loop.
• Ask all commissioners to approve this proposal so we can continue to make progress on providing free access to an interesting, safe shared use trail which has already proved to be beneficial in many ways to all members of the community. Let them know what the Loop means to you.

The deadline for submitting emails is NOON on Tuesday, July 9.

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Additional information
If you are considering attending the commission meeting Tuesday evening, here is a link to the city commission agenda. This item will not be discussed until the Work Session (which will follow the regular commission meeting at 5:45). Our guess is that this session will start fairly late; it’s impossible to say exactly when!

Here is the memo from the Budget Work Group. Loop funding is item #5. 

If you have questions, feel free to contact Chris Tilden, FLAT Advocacy Coordinator.

Thank you so much!