By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

November 17, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Parks and Recreation crews have begun clearing the path for a new trail that will connect the Historic Northeast with Columbus Park.

The Cliff Drive Connector trail will link from Missouri Avenue and The Paseo in the Northeast to 3rd and Holmes in Columbus Park. The scope of work includes construction of a 10-foot wide concrete trail that would traverse through Kessler Park for 2,306 linear feet. Construction of the new trail is scheduled to be completed sometime in the fall of 2017.

Funding for the project is split between a $832,518 federal grant and a local match of $330,000. Those funds were utilized for the design phase of the project in addition to the planned construction.

“It was a federal scenic byway grant,” said Parks and Recreation Program Manager Scott Overbay after the contractor’s bid was approved in September. “The government gives the grant to the state, and then MoDOT oversees the grant requirements.”

At the time the bid was initially approved, avid bicyclist and Independence Avenue CID Beautification and Infrastructure Planner Brett Shoffner noted that he sees the trail connector as a safe alternative route from the Historic Northeast to Columbus Park. As it stands now, the best way between the two destinations on a bicycle is through oft-congested traffic along Independence Avenue.

“We see it more as a transportation corridor than as a recreational trail,” said Shoffner. “This connector trail will also tie into Berkeley Riverfront Park, and all the things they’re doing down there.”