Since 2016, the Grinter Place Friends Inc. had a vision to install an asphalt walking trail on the grounds of the state museum at K-32 and South 78th Street in Kansas City, Kansas.
The initial Walking Trail Committee consisted of Jerry Grey, Don Jolley, Adam Tillery and Alec Tillery. Support was also provided by Bill Nicks, the site director of the Historic Grinter Place house.
Once the project gained ground, the entire Grinter Place Friends Board contributed ideas towards the trail project.
The entire cost of the walking trail project totaled over $40,000. To help raise these funds, applications for grants were completed. The primary grantwriters in this process were Alec Tillery, Adam Tillery and Leona Sigwing.
Grants and donations towards the walking trail project came in from the J.B. Reynolds Foundation (applied for by Don Jolley), Praxair, Inc. (applied for by Angelia Slaughter), the Council of Clubs of Kansas City, Kansas (applied for by Louise Crable) and the majority of funding came from the “Unified Government – Hollywood Casino Grant Fund” (applied for by Alec Tillery, Adam Tillery and Leona Sigwing).
Before laying the asphalt trail, there was a significant amount of overgrowth to be dealt with. The Safety Tree Service removed the abundance of overgrowth and converted it into a wide open pasture. The asphalt trail work was completed by Dave’s Plus Construction in Basehor, Kansas.
The finished asphalt trail includes recycled materials. It is approximately 1,500 feet in total length. The path is not completely flat. There are slopes to help increase the level of exercise. Since it is asphalt, it is much safer for those users that may have mobility challenges.
The trail has the option for laps. One lap around the trail can be completed in less than 10 minutes by the average walker. The average walker can also achieve 600 steps in this one lap if counting footsteps (or using a Garmin or Fitbit tracker). In one lap, the average walker can burn about 30 calories. If an average walker spends 30 minutes walking the trail, he or she could achieve 5 laps, 7,500 feet traveled, 3000 steps, and 150 calories burned in this short time.
Future enhancements soon to come will be a picnic area and signage along the trail. This signage will be dual purpose – distance marking and educational.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the trail was held Saturday, Nov. 10. While the Grinter Place Museum is closed for the winter, the walking trail will remain open for public use.
The purpose of this trail is for exercise and learning about nature and history. The trail area provides an ideal platform for local Scout troops. One scout, Ethan Wolf, achieved his Eagle Scout status by building two wooden benches that are now featured as “rest stops” along the trail.
Also, the Grinter Place Friends have partnered with a local Google Earth Trainer named Scott Lemmon. Lemmon is using top-of-the-line photography equipment to implement Digital Mapping tools through Google Earth. Examples of a few of these Digital Mapping tools include 360 Degree imagery, Virtual Reality and links to published history regarding the Historic Grinter Place site built in 1857. This way, an interested party can view imagery of the trail area through their online connection. The new website of www.grinterfriends.com will host much of these Digital Mapping tools.
The signage and Digital Mapping tools should be ready in spring 2019. Adam Tillery and Alec Tillery of the Grinter Place Friends have designed promotional pieces for this project.
- Information from Alec Tillery, Grinter Place Friends
