Resident proposes Phillips Park running trail and 5K move, says sponsor would cover bridge costs

Jim Belmire, a Loveland resident, told the Loveland City Council during the open forum that he is organizing a plan to build a 3.1-mile continuous running trail at Phillips Park and to host a 5K there to ease parking and safety pressures at Home of the Brave Park. He said the trail would support the Loveland High School cross-country program and provide a safer site for fundraising runs.

Belmire said the plan would address parking and crosswalk safety on Lebanon Road by consolidating parking at Phillips Park and using overflow at the high school. "A local business, Time Savers, has offered to pay for these bridges," Belmire said, adding that volunteers would build the trail and that the proposal would not cost the city money for the bridge elements.

Belmire said the district open draws roughly 23 schools and "about 1,500 runners" on average and that a continuous, non-looping 3.1-mile course would prevent faster runners from catching slower walkers during fundraisers. He also told the council he has discussed aspects of the plan with school staff and representatives, including Kyle McGoughlin and others copied on communications.

Council members and staff asked several follow-up questions about turf impacts and property covenants. One member noted covenants that restrict new trail cutting in Simpson Forest and cautioned the council would need to confirm any alignment that crosses conserved land. Belmire said the proposed trail alignment is outside Simpson Forest and follows areas with an existing sewer line in the creek corridor.

Belmire closed by asking for coordinated staff assistance to move the plan forward and thanking the council for their time. The council did not take formal action on the proposal at the meeting; members asked staff to follow up and to confirm coach and association support before bringing any permit or project request back to a future agenda.