The City of Frankfort and Friends of Clinton County Trails, in collaboration with Clinton County, Frankfort Municipal Utilities, and Healthy Communities of Clinton County Coalition, are inviting residents to a community town hall on September 16 to walk through the details of a new trail project that would connect downtown Frankfort to several of the community’s most used destinations, including Prairie Creek Park, TPA Park, Frankfort Commons Golf Course, Wesley Manor, the Frankfort Lagoons, and the Milky Way.
The event, called Let’s Talk Trails, is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Trinity Hope Center, 806 N. Columbia Street. Residents will be able to review maps of the proposed route, view drone footage of the corridor, and ask questions of the project team in person. The family-friendly evening will include a meal of walking tacos and giveaway of a bike and children’s helmets.
City leaders decided to hold the town hall after hearing from residents who had questions about claims circulating in the community, including concerns that the trail could affect the safety of homes along its route or create new nuisances for nearby neighbors. Rather than respond point by point, the city and its project partners felt the most useful step was to bring the actual maps, plans, and people working on the project into one room so residents can see the route for themselves and get their questions answered directly.
The proposed trail is being planned in partnership with Friends of Clinton County Trails. Details on funding, timeline, and design standards will be shared at the town hall, along with information on how residents can continue to weigh in as the project moves forward.
City of Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets said the trail connects directly to what residents told the city mattered to them during the recent Comprehensive Plan survey process, which drew more than 300 responses from the community.
“When we asked Frankfort what it wanted to see protected and grown over the next ten to twenty years, parks and trails were near the top of the list, right alongside good jobs and new business,” said Mayor Sheets. “This project is what that looks like in practice. Connecting downtown to places like Prairie Creek Park, TPA Park, the Lagoons, and Wesley Manor gives families another safe, everyday way to get outside and get to the places they already go. I know there has been some confusion about this project, and that’s exactly why we wanted to hold this town hall. People deserve to see the real plans and ask their questions directly, and I hope they’ll come do that with us on September 16.”
Carol Price and Lorra Archibald, of Healthy Communities of Clinton County Coalition, said the project fits squarely within the coalition’s work to make healthy, active living easier for Clinton County families. “A connector trail like this is exactly the kind of infrastructure that makes it easier for people to build movement into their everyday lives, whether that’s walking to the park with their kids or riding a bike downtown instead of driving. We’ve seen firsthand what access to safe trails and green space does for a community’s health, and we’re glad to stand alongside the city on this project. We’d encourage anyone with questions to come to the town hall and see the plans for themselves.”
The town hall is open to the public and free to attend. Residents unable to attend in person will have additional opportunities to review the proposed route and submit questions; details will be announced by the city.
