Republic completes J.R. Martin Park trail project

The city of Republic has completed construction of a new multi-use trail inside J.R. Martin Park at 400 E. Hines St. According to news release from the city, the trail is the first of four trails to be added in Republic before the end of 2005. The trails are part of the Republic Parks & Recreation Master Plan.

The mile-long J.R. Martin Park trail is 10 feet wide. It goes through the park and connects to an existing sidewalk along Hines Street. The approximate cost of the trail is $52,000. Republic's Public Works Department completed the installation work for the trail and the Parks & Recreation Department will add benches, a flagpole, landscaping and a trailhead sign.

Republic city crews are working on the Shuyler Creek Trails Project, which runs from the Republic Wal-Mart Supercenter to the vicinity of Elm Street. Trail easements have been acquired to complete the construction of the trail along low-lying areas between Hines and Elm streets. The Shuyler Creek trail will be 1.4 miles long and 10 feet wide. It is scheduled for completion in October. A $100,000 grant received through the Recreational Trails Program of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will go toward the estimated $240,000 total cost of the Shuyler Creek trail.

Once the Shuyler Creek trail is finished, work will begin on a trail that will be located inside Miller Park at 711 E. Miller Road. The 1.3-mile trail will be similar to the trail at J.R. Martin Park. The Miller Park trail will run throughout the east half of Miller Park and connect with existing sidewalks on Miller Road. The total cost of the Miller Park trail is an estimated $56,000, with $26,000 funded by a grant received through the Land & Water Conservation Fund of the DNR.

The last of the four trails that will be completed during the construction period is the Republic Highline Trail. It will begin at the Republic Community Center and will eventually continue to the vicinity of the Republic Police Department. Work will begin on the Republic Highline Trail in the summer of 2005, and it should be finished in the latter part of that year. The total cost of the Republic Highline Trail is about $225,000, with $98,400 to come from a grant received through the Recreational Trails Program.