Augusta nonprofit details Red Bud Trail progress; council authorizes naming‑rights RFP for trail bridge

Kim Austin, president of Arty (the volunteer group supporting the Red Bud Trail), presented an update April 6 to the Augusta City Council on the trail’s progress, recent grants and volunteer activity and asked the council to consider city partnership to finish remaining miles.

Austin said Arty — a 501(c)(3) that coordinates monthly board meetings and community volunteer days — helped with the pedestrian bridge ribbon cutting and related bridge approaches, organized vegetation-clearing work on the six‑mile Santa Fe Lake Road segment and logged about 2,000 volunteer hours in the past year. She told council Arty’s fundraising goal is “raising 300,000 over the next two years” to complete remaining segments and support maintenance. Austin offered to provide historical trail counter data when staff compiles it.

Why it matters: city staff and Arty said completing the in‑town and connecting trail segments would increase recreational access and create opportunities for tourism and community events. Austin noted recent growth in social media reach and donor support, which she said has helped the project’s momentum.

Council then considered a staff‑draft request for proposals (RFP) to solicit naming‑rights proposals for the Red Bud Trail pedestrian bridge that spans the highway. Staff described the draft as deliberately flexible: proposals should explain a desired name, alignment with the city’s image and proposed financial or philanthropic contributions. The draft gives the city discretion to accept or reject proposals and envisions typical naming terms (staff suggested about a 10‑year term as an example).

Staff told the council proceeds from any naming agreement would be designated toward completing the remaining trail segments; the solicitation notes the option of routing funds through a community foundation if that better fits donor preferences. Staff also advised that KDOT limits signage on highway‑facing bridges, so proposals should anticipate signage limitations and that sign costs would be separate from naming contributions.

Council members discussed donor confidentiality and selection logistics; staff said the initial RFP would not require financial documentation and that finalists would supply additional documentation if the city pursued a formal agreement. Kim Austin offered Arty’s help in soliciting donors and communicating with interested parties.

The council approved release of the draft RFP for public distribution and confirmed the draft’s proposed May 4 deadline for submissions. Staff said any final naming agreement would return to council for formal approval.

What’s next: staff will publish the RFP, collect proposals through May 4, and bring finalists or recommended agreements back to the council for review and possible vote.