Eight Years in the Making, New Beatrice Trail Section Underway

BEATRICE – After years of delays, the construction of a state and local-funded recreational trail is underway, in south Beatrice.

The concrete section will connect the Big Blue Water Park in south Beatrice with Hannibal Park in the northeast, and is one of the longest segments in the city’s trail system.  The trail will extend behind the Beatrice YMCA and near Beatrice High School, before going north toward Hannibal.

Planning for the 2.5-mile-long trail dates back more than eight years. One of the issues delaying the project was securing right-of-way for it.  Caspers Construction was selected by the city to construct the $1.34 million section. 

A federal surface transportation grant was awarded to the city back in April, of 2012.  The City of Beatrice share of the cost will be 20-percent, or around $260,000. 

Completion of the trail segment will leave the community with only one stretch remaining to connect the city in a complete circle….the area from Hannibal Park to the Homestead Trail along Dorsey Street.