Fall Creek Trail 90% plans stalled by roadbed and bat habitat; tree work must be done by April 30
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Summary
Staff reported the Fall Creek Trail is roughly 90% designed but a compromised road bed segment and brown bat habitat protection require tree-cut permitting before April 30 to avoid about a nine‑month delay.
City project staff told the Parks Board that the Fall Creek Trail design has reached approximately 90% completion but faces a technical hold-up at a road‑bed and creek segment that is delaying finalization.
"There's 200 feet there that's holding up the entire project," project staff said, explaining the unstable area in front of the Lux property is the immediate barrier to finishing plans. Staff said resolving the roadbed issue will allow the team to release tree‑cutting permits, but the permits must be acted on before April 30 due to brown bat habitat considerations. Failure to complete the necessary tree work in that window would push the schedule back by about nine months.
The board also received updates on immediate maintenance and site work: staff reported restroom upgrades at Leroy/Jen Park and Community Park are planned this year, playground repairs at 45th are scheduled before mowing season, and a parking lot staking contractor will begin elevation benchmarks and curb layout in the next 30 days.
Project staff encouraged the board to anticipate phased construction and to coordinate with the city’s DPW and property owners to ensure the trail’s stability and timely permitting.