Vote Clears Way for River Trail
by Nancy Gaarder, Omaha World-Herald, June 6, 2002
A vote Wednesday by the Metropolitan Utilities District was the last piece
of the puzzle needed for work to move forward on a hiking-biking trail
along Pershing Drive and the Missouri River.
The M.U.D. board approved letting the city build the trail on the
utility's property. The Omaha Public Power District and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers granted similar easements earlier.
The easements will allow a stretch of more than three miles to be built -
the first leg to be completed of the more than 100-mile Back to the River
Trail, said Larry Foster, acting Omaha parks and recreation director. The
trail will run along both sides of the river and will be joined by a
bridge across the Missouri River.
Construction is expected to start in late summer or early fall, with the
section open next summer, Foster said. The section will run south from
N.P. Dodge Park to OPPD property. Next year, work is expected to begin on
the stretch that will continue south to Heartland of America Park.
"We're looking forward to the trail," said Tom Wurtz, general manager for
MUD. In light of the post-Sept. 11 realities, security personnel at M.U.D.
examined the trail's route and determined that it posed no threat to water
treatment facilities.
The utilities and the corps will maintain ownership of their land but will
allow the trail development free of charge.
MUD Resolution Promotes Riverfront Cycling - Thank you MUD!