The National Park Service – National Trails Intermountain Region worked with MARC, local governments, and local trails organizations to develop a strategy concept plan for retracing the three historic trails — the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails — through the Kansas City region. The concept plan offers a system alignment that, once implemented at the local level, will help people explore these historic routes and connect with historic and community assets.
Kansas City Metro Area Conceptual Strategy for Development of the Santa Fe, Oregon and California National Historic Trails incorporates the three historic trails through the following communities: Fairway, Gardner, Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe, Overland Park, Prairie Village and Westwood in Kansas; and Independence, Kansas City, Raytown and Sugar Creek in Missouri. Detailed options for each trail alignment segment include discussions of corridor connections, opportunities and potential challenges, and relationships to historic routes — complete with area maps and photos.
Municipalities will be asked to consider passing resolutions in support of the plan and to incorporate the strategy into their projects and policies. The MARC Board of Directors will consider adoption of this concept plan as part of the regional MetroGreen Greenway Trails Plan in 2018. To see the entire concept plan click here.