Pedestrian & Bike Trail Phase II & III
The construction of the non motorized Pedestrian / Bike Trail began as soon as the notice to proceed was signed by the Southern Plains Region BIA Office, November 8, 2006. The four Pedestrian Bridges within the Park were completed as was several hundred feet of sub-base earth compaction before the 2006 freeze came. The 9,200 feet long project was completed in the 2007 construction season. It consists of a six inch sub-base of compacted AB-3 aggregate and three inches of asphalt ten foot wide. It begins at the 2nd Cluster at L4 Lane on 158 Road, east along the north side of 158, south on the west side of M road, through PrairiePeoplesPark , past the Veterans Memorial and ends at the OldBallPark by M4 & 150 Road. There are two spurs to the Trail, one to the 1st Cluster just south of PrairiePeoplesPark and the second to the Hay Rocks located at the south east section of PrairiePeoplesPark east of the ClaybearBridge . These are mid 1800’s rock carvings with dates and interesting figures and designs. Final inspection was done by Southern Plains BIA engineers in January 2008.
The far south east Trail Bridge is an old bridge out of Nebraska and was installed at only ten foot wide, a forty foot span trust bridge and matches the two old relocated vehicle park bridges, the 1912 Snow’s bridge (U.S. Steel) and the Claybear’s bridge (Carnegie) pre 1912. Norfolk Construction the erectors estimated the age as to the mid 30’s the other three are new basic pedestrian bridges 10 feet wide, two being 30 foot spans the other 20 feet. The Trail east of the Veterans Memorial showcases three of the six Rock Check Dams in the Park built in the WPA days, one is a 180 degree semi circle waterfall when the water flow.
The Trail is funded through Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Transportation matching Enhancement grant, 85/15. Of the funds a State receives from Federal Highway in Washington D.C. Federal Gas Tax, 10% of this amount must be used for these purposes as well as projects such as the New Interchange at U.S. 75 and 150 Rd leading to our casino. There was no mechanism for the State to give the Tribe direct funding, a MOU was created by Southern Plains Region BIA Office and KDOT, and thus the BIA received the funding and oversees the PL-93-638 project. PBPN Road and Bridge met with and received permission from Tribal Council to spend the profit made from the trail construction on a BuffaloLookoutTower . The reason there is profit is because of public law (PL) 93-638 Self Determination. This law gave the Tribes the right to contract federal funds for projects on Indian lands as the same as a general contractor getting a bid awarded to a company.
The engineered design was done by Bartlett & West with route of layout by the PBPN R&B. The Right of Way and easement crossed three Tribal Trust tracts, USA BIA allotment 377, and a Fee land partial. The FEE and allotment land R/W required purchase.
The main objective of this Transportation Enhancement deliverable is met. The safety of pedestrians traveling between the Clusters and Prairie Peoples Park Pow Wow Grounds. Also planed is Phase I, this would start at the Boys and Girls Club and go past the 3rd & 5th Clusters and to the 2nd. The Right of Way and easement is on three Tribal properties and 158 Road Right of Way. The grade and drain work has already been completed waiting future funding for the sub-base aggregate and asphalt walking surface.
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