KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Once a year the Lakes Parks and Recreation Committee meets to discuss the ‘Master Trail Plan’ in Kirksville.  Tuesday they reviewed this map and made changes as needed.
    
Committee members chose the proposed trail to North Park as priority one and a trail north of the park as priority two.

“Bike and pedestrian issues are very important and are becoming more important folks are looking at alternate means of transportation.  Folks are walking more for physical fitness as well as for transportation and the same with bicycles.  We have a lot of college students and a lot of them, for them bicycle is their only mode of transportation.  So it's important to offer east-west, north-south routes for them to get around town,” said Community Services Director Melanie Smith.

The Airport and Transportation Commission will also review the master plan.

Once it's approved, officials will look at possible ways to fund the trails.  Below is a link to a map of the master trail plan.

Master Trail Plan

Also at Tuesday’s meeting committee members discussed plans for a new restroom at Brashear Park.  A couple of months ago the bathrooms were intentionally burnt down.

Porta-potties are available now but will be removed shortly in preparation for the winter months.
        
A pre-cast reinforced concrete building with epoxy coating is preferred.
     
The insurance company is paying $35,000 because the old restrooms were a total loss.
    
But the new restrooms including a water fountain will cost over $45,000.

“It is a little bit more than the insurance rate.  But we feel like that number's very comparable with if we had put it out for bid and just did a stick built facility and it's a lot more vandal proof which is really what we wanted to see,” said Smith.

The proposal will be on the city council agenda for the November 16th meeting.  Smith says if the council approves the proposal, the restrooms should be available in the spring.