by Don Corrigan
Residents and officials with Gerald, Owensville, and Belle, Mo., hosted separate ribbon cuttings to mark progress on the Rock Island Trail on May 31. They were joined by Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park.
There was a packed schedule of events on May 31 that required a bit of travel to cover the trail route. The entire trail will cross much of Missouri. Among the different celebratory events:
• At 9 a.m, May 31, there was a ribbon cutting in Gerald that hailed the opening of one mile of trail at the Gerald Trailhead. An impressive 100-foot mural commemorating the Rock Island Railway was visible. It is supported by local firefighters.
• At 11 a.m. – An Owensville ribbon cutting marked the grand opening of 2.5 miles of trail in Owensville. Bikers and hikers on the Rock Island Trail through Owensville can enjoy local dining options and learn more about the biggest horseshoe known to man.
• At 1 p.m. – The Belle groundbreaking ceremony for a remarkable stretch of trail commenced. The trail extension in Belle is highlighted by views of the Largest Cow Bell on Earth, a caboose, and classic feed mill.
A reception followed at the Zumwalt Feed Mill. Activities included book signings by Dan Burkhardt of Magnificent Missouri and Brett Dufer of Pebble Publishing.
“Thanks to the strong trail community partnerships, support from regional economic organizations and dedicated advocacy by a legion of trail supports, we’re turning vision into reality,” noted a spokesperson for Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park. “We are building a legacy for generations to enjoy.”
The Rails to Trails Conservancy took an interest in turning the old Rock Island Railroad Line Corridor into a trail as early as the 1980s. Today, the corridor is not just becoming a trail, but a trail with ambitions of becoming a 450-mile loop in conjunction with the Katy Trail.
Ameren agreed to donate the 144 miles of the Rock Island Line to the state of Missouri for use as a recreational trail. The Rock Island Trail, which runs from the town of Windsor (90 minutes southeast of Kansas City) to the town of Beaufort (which sits in Franklin County, just west of Union), was named the 93rd Missouri state park in 2023.
The 144-mile multi-use trail will connect to the 240-mile Katy Trail making for a loop of almost 450 miles. The Katy Trail currently attracts 400,000 visitors annually, and has an economic impact of over $18 million on local communities.
One of those local communities is Belle, where Jimmy Zumwalt and his family reside. They are responsible fopr the world’s largest cowbell, right next to the trail. Zumwalt’s feed mill is one of the oldest buildings in Belle, and was the location of the 1 p.m. ceremony.
Environmental Echo 