Grindstone Creek Trail Development
- Grindstone Nature Area to Confluence

* FY 2011 mid-year appropriation from 2010 Park Sales Tax ballot.
** Pending Council approval of FY 2012 funding.

Project Description: New trail development from Grindstone Nature Area to the confluence of the north and south forks of Grindstone Creek. 

Project Manager: Mike Snyder, Sr. Park Planner, 573-874-7203, MTS@GoColumbiaMo.com

Council Items:

• Trail Development
• Fund Appropriation (from 2010 Park Sales Tax)

Preliminary Plan: Click here. Purpose of the preliminary plan is to show a proposed route of the Grindstone Creek Trail in order to start discussion. This is the first phase of the planning process as highlighted in the April 26, 2011 presentation. No engineering studies were conducted regarding feasibility of this route and bridge locations. Other alternate routes will be considered during the planning process.

Project Status:

• April 27, 2012 update: A report including the Phase 1 Alignment Study prepared by Allstate Consultants was submitted on the April 2, 2012 Council Agenda. Council Representative Barbara Hoppe suggested a process that would provide the neighbors a couple weeks to a month to provide a proposed adjustment to the alternative before meeting with East Point Neighborhood Association or an interested parties meeting was scheduled.
• March 30, 2012 update: Staff has reviewed the Phase 1 Alignment Study prepared by Allstate Consultants and has sent the study along with a report to the City Council, which appears on the April 2, 2012 Council Agenda.
• January 19, 2012 update: Allstate Constultants has submitted a preliminary report on the route options. Report is under review by park staff.
• November 15, 2011 update: The trail alignment selection process is proceeding with three potential alignments being considered for the portion west of Highway 63 and two potential alignments being considered to the east of Highway 63. Allstate Consultants LLC, the engineering firm selected to complete the trail alignment selection and the trail design has met with some interested parties and with Council Woman Hoppe to discuss potential alignments and criteria for comparing alignments. Allstate Consultants is in the process of evaluating the alignments and writing a report describing the alignment evaluation process. The report will include discussion of the criteria used and the engineer's recommended alignment. The report will be forwarded to City Council and the public for comment. At least one public meeting will be scheduled prior to final selection of an alignment.
  
• October 24, 2011 update: Surveyors have begun setting survey control points and locating existing control points around the various neighborhoods on both sides of the Creek to develop an accurate base map for the potential trail alignments.
• September 30, 2011 update: Allstate personnel will be in the field during the week of Sept 26-30 to look at options for alternative trail routes and to gather site analysis information. 
• September 23, 2011 update: An engineering contract with Allstate Consultants for the planning and design of the trail was approved at the August 15, 2011 Council Meeting and has been executed.
• July 7, 2011 update: Currently working to secure an engineering contract with a local consulting firm to design the project.
• April 27, 2011 update: Initial trail route planning is underway. On April 26, 2011 park staff Mike Hood & Mike Griggs and Council person Barbara Hoppe met with approximately 41 residents of the Eastpointe Homeowner's Association (EHA) at Miller's Imaging. After a brief EHA meeting, staff presented the below PowerPoint.
  • Grindstone Creek Trail PowerPoint Presentation
  Action items of April 26 meeting included the establishment of a webmail/listserve service as a method to communicate with residents (completed April 28, 2011). Park staff agreed to walk the trail route with interested residents, but it was thought that it might be more productive to wait until an engineering firm was hired to assist with specific bridge locations. However, park planners are available as needed should anyone want to walk the route before June. Just contact Project Manager Mike Snyder to make the arrangements. Detailed minutes of this meeting were also taken by the EHA secretary.
• April 22, 2011: A request for proposal (RFP) has been issued which will provide park planners with engineering and cost estimating assistance regarding any proposed trail routes. Deadline for responses is May 20, 2011, 12:00 noon.
• April 20, 2011: Ward 6 Council person Barbara Hoppe, park staff Steve Saitta, Mike Hood, & Mike Snyder, Eastpointe Homeowner's Assoc President and several Bluff Pointe Drive residents walked an alternate trail route for the Grindstone Trail. Staff agreed to evaluate the proposed route as suggested by an EHA resident who's property is directly impacted by a potential bridge.
• April 7, 2011: Park planner Steve Saitta and Public Works Engineer Ted Curtis walked the creek route and evaluated potential neighborhood connections. During this preliminary walk, contact was made with the Eastpointe Homeowner's Assoc President and residents located adjacent to the Grindstone Creek. Action item included the scheduling of a future meeting with EHA residents, park staff and Councilperson Hoppe.
• December 3, 2010: Park staff Mike Hood, Mike Griggs, Steve Saitta and Mike Snyder walked the Grindstone Creek to evaluate various trail route options as proposed by park planners during earlier visits to the site. Staff started at the Grindstone Nature Area and walked to Maguire Blvd. Staff walked several alternate routes during this trip. Action items on this and subsequent topographic review meetings, included the preparation of the proposed "Preliminary Grindstone Creek Trail Plan" for further review by City planners and residents.

** E = Engineering/Architect Services; C = Contract Work

Capital Improvement Program