Ozark Greenway trail links universities, downtown

ADM Alliance Nutrition donated 8.1 acres of land to extend the current trail at Silver Springs Park south through East Chestnut Street to Jordan Valley Park, linking Drury and Ozarks Technical Community College to Evangel University. A later extension of the trail under Chestnut Expressway will bring Southwest Missouri State University into the loop as well.

“All four will be tied together in center city with a common greenway, which not only benefits the institutions but those that live and work in center city,” said Rusty Worley, vice president of administration for Drury. “We’re just very excited about what possibilities this will open up for Drury and the center city area.”

Chestnut, Porter, Central and Summit streets provide the boundaries for the donated area, which includes ADM’s Tindle Mills facility.

Worley said Drury also intends to use the land to expand its parking options, renovate facilities for academic uses and add an outdoor gathering area that could be used as a classroom.

ADM chose to donate the land so that it can combine the activities of its three branches into one location on Division Street. The company’s Tindle Mills facility is surrounded by Drury and was limited by the university’s traffic and continued growth, Worley said.