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Prairie Travelers recount trail origin and present plaque to Goddard mayor
Summary
Members of Prairie Travelers told the council how the Prairie Sunset Trail was converted from rail yard to community trail, thanked volunteers and donors, and presented a plaque to the mayor recognizing decades of volunteer maintenance.
Members of Prairie Travelers described the long effort to convert an abandoned railroad corridor into the Prairie Sunset Trail and presented a commemorative plaque to the mayor and the city.
Ruth Holiday (S10), who identified herself as secretary for Grey Brothers, said the idea to convert the railroad began in the early 2000s and credited former Mayor Larry Zimmerman and volunteers for helping clear debris and secure a lease and grants. "My name is Ruth Holiday and I'm the secretary for Grey Brothers," she told the council, then described rotating trail counters, volunteer maintenance and families and businesses that adopt miles of the trail to help with upkeep.
A member who said he had been mayor (S2) recounted early conflict over the land and said the group secured a grant and a long lease for downtown parks that helped expand the trail. "We were instrumental in making the first cohort," he said, crediting local volunteers and city support for creating the trail as a downtown amenity.
Gwen Whittett (S6), identified as president of Prairie Travelers, presented a plaque to the mayor and the city "for the Prairie Sunset Trail," and councilmembers thanked the group for decades of volunteer work and for the trail’s value to the community.
What’s next: Prairie Travelers encouraged residents to visit prairiesunsettrail.org to learn about volunteer opportunities and the group’s mile‑adoption program.
