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Lake lands four more trail miles

Another section of the trail system around Smithville Lake is under construction with the help of stimulus dollars.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received $100,000 in stimulus money, according to Derek Dorsey, Smithville Lake park manager with the Corps of Engineers.

However, the help comes with a catch. The Corps can’t use any stimulus money for trails on property that it is leases out, Dorsey said. Currently, the Corps of Engineers leases property to the Clay County Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites. And it leases Smith’s Fork Park to the city of Smithville.

Dorsey said the trail under construction now is not on leased property. It begins on the east side of the Quail Ridge Subdivision off Mount Olivet Road, continues beyond the Litton Visitor Center and ends at Litton Way Drive.

“It’s going to be about four miles and done this summer,” said Bruce Clark, Smithville Lake project manager with the Corps of Engineers.

Originally, the Corps of Engineers and county parks department wanted to include a trail that would connect Smith’s Fork to the trail system, completing the circle around the lake. However, the Corps of Engineers can’t fund it with stimulus money due to the park lease with the city, said Charlie Barr, director of the county parks department.

A one-eighth of a mile portion of the trail will run cross roadways. Clark said hikers and bikers will need to cross Litton Way Drive to Smith’s Fork Drive.

The Corps of Engineers and county parks department have partnered on the lake’s trail system. Since the Corps of Engineers has funding for this leg of the trail, the parks department offered other aid.

“(The parks department) offered to do the earth moving, and the Corps (of Engineers) will buy the gravel and asphalt,” Clark said.

The parks department will maintain the entire trail system, Clark said.

Barr said the parks department has finished laying pipes, tubes and gravel for the current trail. Dorsey said the Corps of Engineers will asphalt — until the stimulus money runs out.

Prior to constructing this leg of the trail, Clark said a “land swap” was necessary. The Corps of Engineers could not continue the trail through the southern-most tip of the lake because it was public land with hunting allowed. So, the Corps of Engineers changed it to an “in park” area. In exchange, the east side of Kelsey Short Group Camp is now public land. Clark said the swap won’t affect the Scout camp.

“Now that the south side (of the lake) is in park, the trail will tie into Access No. 25 when the money becomes available,” Clark said.

And that money will need to come from the county parks department. Barr said they have applied for grants and are now waiting.

The ultimate goal is to build trails on the west side of the lake from Missouri Route W to Paradise Pointe Golf Course, Clark said.

Staff writer Kathy Crawford can be reached at 532-4444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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