Newly improved section of Flint Hills Trail to open in May
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) announced Friday the completion and opening of a newly improved section of the Flint Hills Trail State Park in Franklin County.
The 2.3-mile segment, located west of Ottawa between Louisiana Terrace and Iowa Road, will officially open to the public on Saturday, May 17.
Construction set to begin on first Buc-ee's store in Kansas
Once it opens, visitors can take advantage of 93 miles of continuous trail from Osawatomie to Council Grove.
Construction included a 10-foot-wide multi-use trail surface, a pedestrian bridge over the BNSF Railway and improvements to three existing bridges.
Thanks to these enhancements, visitors no longer have to take a 3.4-mile detour on county roads to cross the railroad tracks safely.
'With every completed section, we're not just building trail—we're connecting communities, expanding recreation access, and helping more Kansans experience the natural beauty of our state,' KDWP Secretary Christopher Kennedy said.
The department said the project was made possible through a Transportation Alternatives Program grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).
A ribbon-cutting celebration for the improved section will be planned at a later date, the KDWP said.
See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri
The department also said it has long-range plans to develop the trail along its full length as funding becomes available.
To learn more about Flint Hills Trail State Park, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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