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Posted on Tue, Nov. 03, 2009 10:15 PM
Belton unveils plan to get people walking
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Belton parks officials hope their new Trails Master Plan will get people walking and pedaling when they want to go someplace, rather than revving up their vehicle engines.
The first phase, a trail along Oil Creek in the eastern half of the city, would be highlighted by a pedestrian/bicycle tunnel under U.S. 71, effectively connecting the eastern Belton with the historic core — access that had previously been unavailable except by automobile.
“How do you make a community really come alive?” asked park board vice president Steve Bennett when the plan was introduced last week. “Fitness, recreation, education, transportation and public safety — those are the things that really add up to an overall quality of life.”
The plan is far from specific or final, even though a concept was shown to the public during the Oct. 26 kickoff. “I don’t want people looking at this, looking at where we’ve drawn a trail in relation to their property, and feeling like it’s set in stone,” Bennett said. “The master plan is something that says we kind of want to go there, but it’s going to take a lot of input. If a trail doesn’t really belong there, that’s the last place we want to be.”
Studies have shown that businesses grow along trail routes, Bennett said. And disconnected neighborhoods begin to join together as individuals meet on the trails, and such a system could provide an excellent opportunity for children to safely walk to school. “Studies have shown that children who walk to school have a measurably better grade-point average,” he said.
As part of the kickoff, Belton police officer Mike Strong demonstrated the department’s commitment to bike patrol — an effort that could be expanded and efficiently used to protect the system’s safety.
He also said that increased bicycle usage among citizens can have numerous positive results.
“A year ago last summer, I was privileged to be able to spend most of the season on bike patrol,” Strong said. “Not only did I love it, but I was able to run a half-marathon by the end of that time.”
Posted on Tue, Nov. 03, 2009 10:15 PM
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