By Debby Woodin
dwoodin@joplinglobe.com
After a half-dozen residents testified Monday night that they want some kind of trail in McClelland Park, a majority of the City Council voted against building a circular walking trail there but directed the city staff to propose alternatives for a more elaborate trail.
The council had previously voted not to build a trail in Schifferdecker Park but had advanced the walking trail in McClelland Park, then tabled the action on the McClelland Park trail in order to conduct Monday night’s public hearing. Trails in the two parks were promised when voters were asked in 2001 to approve a quarter-cent sales tax for parks and stormwater projects.
On Monday night, several council members said they support building trails but do not support the park trail as proposed.
One council member, Bill Scearce, contended that the council in previous votes had not nixed the trails but merely delayed construction of them.
Six people, including a representative of the local Dogwood Trailblazers walking club, a member of the Jasper-Newton County Health Collaborative, the director of the Community Clinic and residents who use the city’s existing trails, all told the council that they support a trail in McClelland Park.
Joplin resident Jennifer McKeough told the council that she has lost 40 pounds by walking and running on city trails. She said she mostly uses trails in central and north Joplin.
“Trails heighten and promote healthy living,” she said, adding that some people like herself are inspired to exercise by seeing others walking or running on the trails.
Councilman Benjamin Rosenberg asked her how many times in the past year she had been to McClelland Park. He also asked her if there is a shortage of trails in the city and if they are too crowded to use. She said the number of people at the trails varies, and that she had not recently been to McClelland Park.
Resident Philip Ledbetter said he walks in McClelland Park most every day. He said he was disappointed in the size of the proposed trail.
“I think there is a shortage of trails in that part of town,” the southwest area of the city, he said. He also said the area is scenic, and that a trail that connects to other parks and trails to the east and that takes in the woods would be better than the circular trail proposed.
Bill White, a member of the parks advisory board, said the board voted to recommend this trail to the council. He said a trail would be an integral part of McClelland Park and would give visitors there something else to do.
The park is chiefly used by disc golf players because a 27-hole course is located there.
Councilman Michael Seibert said he is not opposed to building trails, but he was not in favor of spending money to build only a small, circular walking trail. He said he would like to see a trail proposal that interconnects McClelland Park with other trails or parks.
Councilwoman Melodee Colbert-Kean asked the city manager if circular walking trails exist at some other neighborhood parks. Circular trails have been built in three other parks.
Scearce said he was not going to vote for the proposal. “I’m not going to vote for it, not because I’m opposed to trails but because I’m opposed to this trail,” he said. He said he did not favor the elevation of the trail and thought it would be difficult for disabled people to use.
Councilman Phil Stinnett said council members are in favor of trails. “Some of us have a concern about how the trail is laid out,” he said. He said a lot of people want destination trails.
Mayor Pro Tem Mike Woolston made a motion to deny authorization to build the trail, but to ask the staff to put together at least two other designs for trails that would be scenic and/or connect with other parks. Scearce seconded the motion.
The motion passed 7-1, with Colbert-Kean voting against it.
Paul Swaim, a member of the Dogwood Trailblazers, said of the decision: “I think it’s good. I think we can get something better out of it than was proposed.”
Ledbetter said he was happy with the decision. “I commend the council for not getting in a rush and putting in a trail just to put in a trail,” he said.
Project lists
Doug Joyce, the parks and recreation director, said trails in McClelland and Schifferdecker parks were listed in the 2001 Citizens’ Master Plan for city parks and in the list of projects for the 2001 sales tax election. At McClelland Park, he said, plans call for a second picnic shelter and playground to be built next year, and for some parking areas to be paved.
