Construction on Phase II of walking trail to begin soon

Construction of Phase II of the Kelley Creek Walking Trail is expected to begin this summer and will begin at Seminole Drive, loop around Kelley Park through Bolles Canyon Road and end up at M Street across from Weiland Field.

Drawings and specifications for the route were approved by the McCook City Council Monday night.

This route was one of several options presented by the McCook Walking Trail committee and chosen by the Nebraska Games and Parks Commission, after the original route for Phase II was scrapped.

The orginal route extended the trail along a primitive path maintained by the city that leads up to Norris Avenue. But that design called for additional funding for retaining walls to correct steep inclines and the removal of about 75 trees. The City Council did not want to spend the additional funds and asked for other options.

Although this alternative route still calls for retaining walls at two separate locations, the work is less than the original plan called for.

In this new route, the slope of the land exceeds the maximum allowed, for about 30 feet where the trail enters the park and again where the trail begins the assent up Bolles Canyon, for about 200 feet. Due to constraints of the existing road, embankments and drainage ways, about 1,100 square feet of retaining wall will be required for the entire project.

This revised route required a new design, another environmental review, new estimates for construction and proof of ownership of the land, which have all been completed.

Costs of this part of the walking trail will be funded 80 percent by Nebraska Games and Parks with the city supplying 20 percent.