Officials with Nishna Valley Trails have conveyed a section of recreational trail to the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Atlantic Municipal Utilities’ Board. NVT’s Dave Chase said during Monday evening’s meeting of the Parks and Rec Board, and earlier at the AMU meeting, that the $138,000 Troublesome Creek to AMU Wellhead Site Connector Trail located adjacent to the Atlantic Little League Complex, has been completed thanks to donations, and with the cooperation and input of the Parks Department and AMU, the organization coordinated the design of the trail by Snyder and Associates of Atlantic.

Dave Chase (NVT) presents a certificate conveying the completed trail system to Parks and Rec Dir. Seth Staashelm. From left to right: Snyder & Associates Engineer Dave Sturm, Staashelm, Chase and Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones.

Since the project has been paid for, Chase said the group “Thought it appropriate to dedicate [the] trail section to the Public, and add to our community trail system.” The completed hard-surface connection adds about six-miles of trail to the current system in Atlantic, and ties in the Schildberg Quarry to the west and AMU Wellhead trail system to the east.

Chase said the next project the group wants to tackle in the coming year, is a gazebo that will act as a trailhead, a shelter and a place where trail users can get maps and other information about the community, its businesses and services available. The gazebo will be located just off Olive Street, with a hard surface ramp to an area on the Little League Complex grounds. The project is expected to cost about $12,000. He said funds have already been given toward the project by the Atlantic CPC, other organizations and individuals, including memorials from estates.

Trail Head Gazebo concept for the Little League Complex

Chase said also that “We’re not done yet.” That’s because they are looking toward the further implementation of the Atlantic Recreation Trail Comprehensive Plan that was adopted by the City in 2015. Chase said that includes through the use of additional painted lanes, signage and further development of the existing trails. They will enhance the current and proposed trails by making them even more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.

The 2015 Comprehensive Trail plan which was modified a bit in 2017. (click to enlarge)

Those routes and methods are being further identified and supplemented by a recent “Walking Audit” of the City, conducted by the Wellmark Foundation and sponsored by Cass County Public Health.