Remember the days of friendly front porches and regular walks to the corner store? Remember when it was normal to see children riding bicycles almost anywhere? Well, if you've been to Springfield lately, that friendly culture is making a comeback.
Though subdivisions, highways and shopping centers cover open fields and wooded areas once home to wildlife and exploring children, Ozark Greenways is setting aside miles of greenspace corridors for the public to enjoy. It’s hard to escape the American car culture until you find out about the wonderful greenway trail network growing throughout the city.
Ozark Greenways is the non-profit, membership organization working to develop a network of paved walking, jogging and biking trails along corridors of protected greenspace throughout the Springfield area. The trails provide safe, family-oriented recreation for people of all ages and abilities and are handicapped accessible. They provide opportunities for enjoyable fitness activities and transportation routes to and from school, work, church and shopping. These trails are safe because neighbors use them regularly and are proud of "their" community trails. Volunteer Trail Watchers roam the trails representing Ozark Greenways with a friendly presence.
Imagine walking on the popular 8-mile Galloway Creek Greenway in southeast Springfield. You might choose to park at Sequiota Park and walk or bike to the Springfield-Conservation Nature Center. You may choose to bring binoculars to watch birds and catch a glimpse of a deer or two.
Don’t miss the newly completed Frisco Highline Trail connecting Springfield to Bolivar. This 35-mile compacted gravel trail is the second longest Rail-Trail in the state. See the rolling rural landscape by bike, eat at Downtown BBQ in Willard and see David Gray’s roadside attraction in Wishart. End your trip in Springfield and spend the night at a hotel, take in the attractions and enjoy downtown dining.
The trails are open all year during daylight hours, so dress for the weather and bring a water bottle. New trail users may want to start by timing themselves out and back, depending on their fitness level and schedule. Another option is to arrange a car shuttle at one end of trail, travel the entire trail and drive back to your starting point.
No matter how you decide to meet Springfield’s urban trail system, you are sure to enjoy yourself.
For more information about the growing network of greenway trails or how to become a member of Ozark Greenways, call 417-864-2015 or visit http://www.ozarkgreenways.org/. For more information about Springfield, Missouri, visit http://www.ilovespringfieldmo.com/ or call the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-678-8767.
Twitter users can follow www.twitter.com/SpringfieldCVB for travel information about Springfield.
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1 comments:
Another good reason for looking forward to spring and summer!
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