Davids, Miami County Community Celebrate $24 Million Federal Grant for Flint Hills Trail Expansion

OSAWATOMIE, KS - Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) to officially announce a federal grant of $24,821,705 has been awarded to improve and expand the Flint Hills Trail. This "Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity" (RAISE) grant will help make infrastructure improvements on 40.5 miles of the trail and open 27 new miles of the trail, from Council Grove to Herington. Davids previously sent a letter of support to U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg advocating for the grant.

"The Flint Hills Trail not only provides a safe, beautiful, and continuous stretch of land for pedestrians and cyclists, but also directly benefits our local economy," said Davids. "I'm glad residents of Miami, Franklin, and other Kansas counties will be now able to enjoy the new outdoor spaces in their communities."

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Rep. Sharice Davids speaking on the new federal RAISE grant at the Flint Hills Trail head.

"No other trail connects more communities, cultures, and landscapes in our state than Flint Hills Trail State Park," said Governor Laura Kelly. "I'm thrilled Representative Davids and the RAISE grant selection committee recognize its value to Kansas, and that the 19 rural communities located along the trail will benefit from this project to make the trail safer and more accessible for public recreation."

"Flint Hills Trail State Park presents a remarkable opportunity for exercise, nature-viewing, and tourism in some of Kansas' most beautiful areas," said Brad Loveless, Secretary for Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. "Thanks to this grant, and the amazing partnerships formed since the trail's inception – especially those with trail volunteers and cooperating landowners and neighbors – we can now see the finish line for trail completion."

"The Flint Hills Trail provides the people of Kansas everything they could want in a multimodal trail, including safe routes to schools, business and parks and a safer alternate bike, pedestrian and equestrian corridor off of highways and roadways," said Rick Backlund, Federal Highway Administration Kansas Division Administrator. "The Federal Highway Administration is proud to provide a RAISE grant and an Environmental Excellence Award for Flint Hills and commends everyone involved in efforts to improve this crown jewel of Kansas trails."

The funding announced today for the Flint Hills Trail State Park will specifically invest in drainage improvements, pipes, culverts, bridges, base improvements, limestone surfacing, fences and gates, bollards, safety improvements, and signage. These improvements 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.

A 2021 economic impact study conducted by Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research determined that Flint Hills Trail State Park provides more than $1.8 million in economic impact to the communities it passes through.

"Outdoor recreation is important to cleanse our minds and bodies of today's technological and social media world," said Dave Baker, Kansas State Representative. "We all need to get outside to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of Kansas. The Flint Hills economy is experiencing an increased level of energy as people discover a trail that is accessible to everyone, regardless of age or physical condition. Communities are being revitalized as new businesses arrive to satisfy the needs of hikers and bikers who come from every corner of the country. High speed internet connections attract remote workers to use the trail while enjoying nature. The investment in outdoor recreation will produce dividends for generations. We all search for peace and tranquility that will last a lifetime and the outdoor trails are that place.

"We've been actively developing Flint Hills Trail since 2014, making improvements as funds were available," said Jeffrey Bender, Regional Supervisor for Kansas State Parks and co-author of the RAISE grant application. "Despite the immense amount of work still ahead of us, we're extremely proud of our accomplishments to date, including obtaining the U.S. Department of Interior's ‘National Recreation Trail' designation in 2020 and receiving the Federal Highway Administration's ‘Environmental Excellence Award' in 2022. Being awarded this RAISE grant is just further proof of this trail's regional and national significance."

Davids, Vice Chair of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has worked to strengthen and improve Kansas' outdoor spaces. The bipartisan infrastructure law, which Davids was the only member of the Kansas delegation to support, provided federal funding to the Federal Highway Administration's Recreational Trails Program and the National Park Service to repair and upgrade multiuse trails, transit systems, and wildlife crossings. Davids also successfully secured funding for three economic development and green space initiatives in Kansas City, KS.

Today, Davids joined KDWP, state, and local leaders for a community celebration that included a breakfast, community forum, awards ceremony, and bike ride. Along with the RAISE grant, KDWP announced the Flint Hills Trail was also awarded a 2022 Environmental Excellence Award for its commitment to sustainability, equity, environmental justice, complete streets, economic strength, and safety for all road users.

Background:

Passing through the largest remaining area of tallgrass prairie in the U.S., the Flint Hills Trail is the longest trail in Kansas and the eighth-longest rail-trail in America. The trail provides safe routes to schools, businesses, and parks for people of all abilities and a safer alternate bike, pedestrian, and equestrian corridor off state highways and county roads. Communities have seen a surge in economic benefits along the trail, including the addition of campgrounds, shops, restaurants, and a $4.4 million public development in Ottawa that includes greenspace, covered pavilions, and a playground.

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. In August 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced this award in a press release.

Since 1995, the Environmental Excellence Awards have recognized leaders across the country who make outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship and partnerships above and beyond traditional transportation project outcomes. The 2022 awards were coordinated with FHWA's Offices of Human Environment, Natural Environment, and Project Development and Environmental Review to reflect the notion that "environment" means a connection to both human and environmental systems.