MAPS and preservation groups press council to restore Railroad Museum project funding and continue trail investments

Members of the city's MAPS (Multimodal Access and Public Spaces) subgroup of the Bowie Green Team and the Huntington Heritage Society asked the council to restore funding for the Railroad Museum Improvement Project in the FY26 budget and highlighted planned trail and park work.

MAPS speakers thanked the city for proposed funding to complete segments of the city trails network and for trail repairs such as the Jericho Park Veil Segment and hiker/biker trail work on North Drive. MAPS singled out transportation specialist Bridal Croker for producing the city's first bike map and urged continued collaboration between community groups and city staff on trail planning and public-space projects.

Joshua Wooten and Ken McCoy of MAPS asked council to add back funding for the Railroad Museum Improvement Project, arguing the museum is a local cultural and educational asset and that upgrades would increase visitation and tourism, support school group visits and promote community pride. Bob Rapczynski, president of the Huntington Heritage Society, said prior phases (bridge and path, Heritage Park construction) have benefited Old Bowie and that the remaining improvements (caboose relocation, viewing platforms, educational plaza) should be completed to create a more cohesive museum campus.

Council thanked the speakers for their advocacy; no formal budget amendment was acted on at this meeting.