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Clay County approves application for Smithville Lake south-loop trail grant
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Summary
The commission approved applying for an 80/20 trail grant to build a three‑mile south loop at Smithville Lake, with phase 1 targeting a one‑mile segment and a county match of $300,000 if awarded; county staff emphasized phasing, timing and competitive scoring.
Clay County commissioners voted 6‑0 to authorize staff to apply for a regional trail grant to fund a three‑mile south loop at Smithville Lake, a project county staff said would be split into three one‑mile phases and delivered in 2029 if funded.
Parks Director John Davis told the commission the project would “start the south trail loop of Smithville Lake” and that the proposal is a three‑mile addition to the county’s multipurpose asphalt trail system. Davis said cost is “1 point or 1,500,000” for the phase described and that the grant is an 80/20 match, with the federal portion estimated at $1,200,000 and the county portion $300,000. “This is existing what it looks like at Mount Olivet,” he added while describing trailheads and needed parking improvements.
Commissioners questioned the cost per mile and program timing. One commissioner asked whether $1.5 million per mile was typical; Davis replied that is “the industry standard” and cautioned that material price fluctuations could change costs by 2029. The administrator said the county’s prior plans and early design work (plans from 2020 drafted by Burns & McDonald) make the project more competitive.
Members also pressed how the proposal would fit with the county parks master plan, and whether management fees and administration could be handled in‑house to retain more local funds. The administrator said the grant process requires timely submission and that the county’s prior planning and design work make the application competitive. Commissioners discussed the possibility of adjusting the scope if costs rise, with Davis noting the county could reduce mileage funded or request project amendments later.
The commission approved the motion to apply for the grant. The vote followed discussion that emphasized the application is a step to seek funding, not a final commitment to spend the county’s match until award details and project costs are confirmed.
Next steps: staff will finalize and submit the application within the grant timetable and return to the commission with award information and any recommended project adjustments.
