Members of the Houston City Council learned last week that progress continues on a walking and bicycling trail that will circle the community.
City Administrator Bill Bates reported that cleanup along property owned by the Akins family is complete. Brush was cleared, stumps removed and a general cleanup completed by the city, along with a crew from the South Central Correctional Center.
The current trail projects include:
*The Brushy Creek Trail, funded by a Missouri Department of Natural Resources grant, is to be completed by December. This will include a trailhead to be placed at the former gravel operation at Oak Hill Drive. Downtown Houston Inc. earlier purchased the property. The city will work to remove concrete structures on the property and start preparations to contour the land for the trail and the planting of native grasses, wildflowers and other plants.
Access will be from the Houston Visitors Center, Emmett Kelly Park and the Texas County Justice Center.
*A 2005 Missouri Department of Transportation grant will fund a 10-foot wide transportation lane along U.S. 63 from Highway 17 to Grand Avenue. This includes a native rock entry sign for the downtown. Engineer plans are being finalized with a completion date in 2009.
*A 2006 MoDOT grant will fund a 10-foot wide stretch from U.S. 63 to Grand Avenue to Emmett Kelly Park. It also will continue the north end of the Brushy Creek stretch along Grand Avenue to Spruce Street. Completion date: 2010.
*A stretch through Emmett Kelly Park is funded by the City of Houston.
*The city is applying for a MoDOT grant to fund lanes along Spruce Street. The application was submitted before a Wednesday deadline. Completion date is 2011.
Bates said the city also has gained the permission of the Christie family to run through the trail through two historic bridges west of the county justice center that is under construction.