FLATS has been awarded technical assistance through the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program to support its mission of connecting Kirksville to Thousand Hills State Park with a paved multi-use hiking and biking trail!

Over the next year, RTCA staff will assist FLATS with planning and funding research for Phases Two and Three of the project, which will link to the park’s two campgrounds and eventually connect to the city ofKirksville.

This project helps further the goals of the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, supporting community efforts to increase access to outdoor recreation, and to cultivate stewardship and appreciation of America’s natural and recreational resources through innovative partnerships. The proposed Forest Lake Area Trail System provides an important connection between the city of Kirksville and the resources at Thousand Hills State Park.

“I am looking forward to working closely with the FLATS committee and the Kirksville community to envision a trail system that will enhance the quality of life for residents and provide an economic boost to the area,” said Kimberly Shafer, Outdoor Recreation Planner with the National Park Service-RTCA program.

Through the RTCA Program, the National Park Service helps communities and neighborhoods to preserve valuable open spaces, revitalize nearby rivers, and develop trail and greenway networks. Projects are locally conceived and initiated, with RTCA staff supporting community based recreation and conservation leaders.

This year, 200 communities will receive assistance from the RTCA program on projects nationwide. RTCA project partnerships result in over 1700 miles of trail, nearly 1000 miles of river conserved, and more than 50,000 acres of open space protected on average annually.

For more information on the National Park Service RTCA program, visit www.nps.gov/rtca.

Thanks to the Thousand Hills State Park Dining Lodge for hosting a fundraising dinner the night before the FLATS Trail Half-Marathon and donating $250 to FLATS!

Photo (from left to right): Ivy Koger, Rick Steele, Jeremy Kolb, Steve Kolb, and Dan Martin

Please join us at the Thousand Hills Dining Lodge any time between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. this Friday, October 21 for a FLATS Dinner Fundraiser.  The Dining Lodge will donate a portion of what all diners spend that night to FLATS.

RSVP to the Facebook event page or just show up when you’re hungry!

Eric Barber, CEO of Northeast Regional Medical Center, presented a check for $10,000 at the September 8th meeting of Kirksville Thousand Hills Rotary, completing Phase One of the FLATS Fundraising Campaign!

The generous donation from Northeast Regional along with many others from Adair County residents and businesses have made Phase One possible. This section is a 10-foot-wide ADA-accessible concrete trail between the Petroglyph Site and the Marina at Thousand Hills State Park.

“Community support and enthusiasm have made this project come to life,” FLATS spokesperson Royce Kallerud said.  “With this momentum we’ve set our Phase Two goal of $25,000 for December 1, 2011.”

Phase Two of the Forest Lake Area Trail System will link the two campgrounds together.  The final and largest portion of the project, Phase Three will link from the campground to Kirksville.

Check back regularly for more exciting announcements!

Pictured left to right: Jeff Romine, Kevin Baiotto, Andy Hill, Royce Kallerud, Scott Meredith, Dan Martin, Northeast Regional Medical Center CEO Eric Barber, and Elsie Gaber.

The Cape Air Kirksville Air Fest will donate a portion of profits this year to the Forest Lake Area Trail System! The events are Saturday, September 10th and Sunday, September 11th.

Please come out to support this impressive event and show your appreciation for their support of FLATS. The forecast looks perfect.

For more information, visit www.kvairfest.com.

La Fuente Mexican Restaurant recently made a generous $1000 donation to FLATS while members of Kirksville Rotary and the FLATS Steering Committee enjoyed a delicious dinner on the restaurant’s beautiful patio. La Fuente’s donation will help fund labor and materials for Phase 1 of the FLATS project.

FLATS will recognize La Fuente and other businesses that donate at the $1000 Trail Champion level (or above) on a permanent plaque at the trail head. Individuals who donate at the $500 Trail Partner level (or above) will be recognized on the plaque as well. Donors at all levels will be recognized on the FLATS website and with a free FLATS sticker.

If you or your business is interested in learning more about this opportunity please contact a member of the FLATS Steering Committee or email FLATS.

Thank you La Fuente and Rotary for working to build this trail!

Pictured from right to left: Bob Fredricks, Kevin Baiotto, Rick Steele, Mario Razo, Pat Murdock, Pedro Macedo, Royce Kallerud, and Dan Martin. Photo by Jason Hunsicker.

Kirksville Noon Rotary and Heartland RSVP will host the 13th annual Duck Dash fundraiser to benefit the Forest Lake Area Trail System (FLATS) and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program!

The rescheduled event takes place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 7th at the Kirksville Aquatic Center in Rotary Park. You can adopt ducks at any time at the Super 8.

Once you have your ducks they’ll race down the Aquatic Center slide. There will be three lucky duck big winners, with $1500 for first place, $1000 for second, and $750 for third. Adoptions are $5.00 per duck or a six quack of ducks for $25.00. Adopt some ducks today to support FLATS!

On Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 Missouri Governor Jay Nixon came to Thousand Hills State Park to announce a $100,000 Recreational Trails Program Grant for Phase 1 of FLATS. He and Missouri Director of State Parks Bill Bryan spoke at the historic Petroglyph site on a beautiful spring afternoon.

Thirty-two other Missouri trail projects were funded. Governor Nixon chose to come to just two locations, Kirksville and St. Louis, to announce these projects. Both he and Director Bryan expressed their strong commitment to FLATS, emphasizing the many benefits this project will bring to our community and the natural beauty of Northeast Missouri.

Members of the Kirksville City Council, several of the Adair County Commissioners, local law enforcement officials, DNR and Conservation officials, local business, health, and education leaders, candidates for local office, media representatives, and many others came out to show their support of FLATS.

Photos by Kelly Rogers.