Kearney Asks for Connected Trail Grant Help

The city of Kearney is asking residents to help secure a grant through Mid America Regional Council (MARC) to secure funds to build its Keeping Kearney Connected Trail Plan.

MARC has grant funding set aside for communities to help plan sustainable places and the city of Kearney has applied to receive money for sidewalks and trails.

“There is $900K available to Missouri communities to develop a plan for better sidewalks, trails, pathways, and improved crossings,” reads an email from Kearney Economic Development Director Carolyn Yatsook. “The City of Kearney has applied for some of this funding and is competing with other communities in the Kansas City metro and we need your help!”

City of Kearney staff are asking residents to submit public comments directly to MARC which will positively affect the rankings of Kearney’s application. Comments can be submitted in the GRANT PORTAL. Viewers will see a list of all applications, click on the “view project” tab for Kearney, MO and write your supportive comment. The comment period closes on July 22nd at 11:59 pm.

Kearney is also working with the Clay County Parks Department to build a two-phase Smithville Lake to Kearney Trail Project. 

Phase one will begin with a connection from Jack Rabbit Bend Access to Arley Access at Smithville Lake. The second phase will be from the Arley Access to Mack Porter Park in Kearney. With the addition of this trail, the city of Kearney will also consider extending their sidewalks from Dogwood Elementary north to phase two of the trail. It will also allow a connection to downtown Kearney. This project is the start of a greater goal of multi-use trails going from Smithville Lake to Watkins Mill.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.