The Department of Wildlife and Parks announced that Kansas is the recipient of a $24.8 million federal grant, made possible by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity,” or RAISE program.
In May, Governor Kelly wrote to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in support of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Park’s application for funding to expand the Flint Hills Trail – the longest trail in Kansas and the eighth-longest rail-trail in the United States.
“No other trail connects more communities, cultures, and landscapes in our state than Flint Hills Trail State Park,” Governor Kelly said.
RAISE grants are designed to “help urban and rural communities move forward on projects that modernize roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, and intermodal transportation” while focusing on safety, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability.
Organized into six phases, the Flint Hills Trail RAISE grant project will make infrastructure improvements on 40.5 miles of the trail, including opening 27 miles of the trail, from Council Grove to Herington.
The grant awarded for Flint Hills Trail State Park will be specifically invested in drainage improvements, pipes, culverts, bridges, base improvements, limestone surfacing, fences and gates, bollards, safety improvements and signage. This will open the full length of the Flint Hills Trail’s 118 miles, making it part of 186 miles of directly connected trails in eastern Kansas.
To learn more about Flint Hills Trail State Park, click here.
