Take a Hike

Lawrence’s supply of outdoor trails not only help improve the health of community members who frequent them but are also a boon to its economy.

Ellen Young front-left in the Ad Astra shirt and The Running for the Hill gang start a run on The Billy Mills Trail at Haskell University

Kansas isn’t what you’d call a go-to hiking state. When it is included on best-of lists, the lucky trail is usually described along the lines of, “You won’t believe you’re in Kansas!”

Apparently, those “best-of” writers haven’t been to Lawrence. It’s a great place for ambulatory pursuits, enthusiasts say, whether you’re walking for fitness or after a more rugged hike. The area’s paths and trails wind through historic neighborhoods and past art installations, skirt shorelines and wetlands, cut through oak and hickory forests, as well as patches of native prairie. Whatever they lack in drama they more than make up for in diversity.

“We’re not Colorado, we’re not Washington state or any of those other places. We don’t have the things they do,” says Kate Dinneen, chair of the nonprofit Friends of Lawrence Area Trails (FLAT). “We do have these amazing trails and outdoor possibilities.”

Such resources are a boon for residents, in no small part because they also positively impact the area’s economy. Outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, accounted for 1.8 percent of Kansas’s gross domestic product in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Parks and trails boost the value of nearby residential properties, help attract jobs, draw outside visitors and reduce medical costs by spurring increased physical activity among residents, according to a 2015 study of the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District. Studies conducted by other cities and counties, as well as organizations such as the American Hiking Society, yield similar results. It’s no stretch to think that local trails have a similar impact on the Lawrence economy.

“It’s one more amenity that brings people in,” Dinneen says. “People like to do things that are athletic.”

J. Jenkins, owner of Ad Astra tells customers the stories behind the historic photos of legendary local track stars that line his walls

Trail Usage Surges

Trails and paths have proven to be even more crucial in recent months, as area residents headed outside during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the nation’s largest trails organization. Trail usage was 79 percent higher between March and May of this year compared to 2019, and three-quarters of people surveyed said trails contributed significantly to the well-being of a community, the organization explains.

That’s proven true in Lawrence, as well. Regular trail users have noted heavier traffic throughout recent months, Dinneen says, and those observations are backed by FLAT’s survey of Lawrence Loop multiuse trail users on what she calls an unseasonably and uncomfortably hot day in May.

“We had the same numbers as they had (from a survey taken) on a nicer day the previous year in the fall,” Dinneen says. “It’s not enough to come up with a scientific deduction, but anecdotally, it represents a lot more usage.”

J. Jenkins, who, together with Grant Catloth, owns Ad Astra Running, saw something similar on the trails and paths he frequents.

“We saw a big upsurge out on the paths in March, April and May,” he says. “The paths were swarming with people.”

Heather Hasler outside of Gribbles; Left: Customers trying on running shoes at Garry Gribbles.

Simply Get Outside

Walking and hiking are, at their most basic level, easy. Simply put on shoes and walk outside. Lawrence has more than 486 miles of sidewalks, and plenty of walkers take to them regularly for exercise. “We see probably as many walkers in the store as runners,” Jenkins says. “There are an awful lot of people walking for their primary exercise.”

Many of those want special gear, just like runners do. Shoes, socks, lightweight and breathable clothing, reflective jackets, headlamps, water bottles, belts to stow phones or keys—Lawrence’s running and shoe stores supply it all. Like other retailers, such stores shut down in March, when they reopened, they were met with pent-up demand from walkers both experienced and new.

“As soon as we were able to reopen, we were overwhelmed by people shopping,” says Heather Hasler, assistant manager at Gary Gribble’s Running Sports. “So many people were out walking, and they realized they needed different shoes or accessories.”

Lawrence has what Hasler describes as a huge walking community. Certainly, there was enough interest for the store to host what it called Walking Wednesdays, a congenial group that gathered weekly for a shared workout. The official group was put on pause out of safety concerns when the pandemic began, but that hasn’t kept people from walking.

Ryan Schwisow points out the merits of a Merrell hiking shoe; Right: Brown’s shoes on Mass St

A Trail for Everyone

Part of the appeal, Hasler says, is the variety of paths available throughout the community. Ellen Young, who founded the women’s running and walking group Running for the Hill of It about a decade ago, agrees.

“Lawrence has great trails now and lots of good walking areas,” she says.

Young began walking in the 1990s, when she says she was extremely overweight. She shed the weight and eventually began running and even worked at both Gary Gribble’s and Ad Astra for a time. Her group draws women of all speeds—walkers, trail runners, women who run long distances or train using a hybrid run-walk-run method pioneered by Olympian Jeff Galloway. There’s room for everyone, and no one is ever left behind, she says.

“I’m not concerned with how fast we go,” Young says. “It’s about getting out and moving.”

Running for the Hill of It meets Monday nights at Ad Astra and usually passes through nearby residential neighborhoods. When asked which are her favorite routes, Young lists a dozen or more, including Pickney, North Lawrence, Prairie Meadows and other neighborhoods; the Sandra Shaw Trail, near downtown; and trails at Rock Chalk Park, Prairie Park Nature Preserve, Baker Wetlands, Clinton Park and elsewhere.

There are also plenty of stretches she likes along the Lawrence Loop, which aspires to be a 22-mile continuous network of trails and paths around Lawrence. It was conceived more than two decades ago, and more than 17 miles have so far been completed. Much of its distance incorporates distinct paths, such as the Burcham Park Trail in East Lawrence; the Burroughs Creek Trail and Linear Park, from 11th to 23rd streets (which also connects to Haskell Indian Nations University and the Haskell Rail-Trail, the first operational rail-trail in Kansas); and the 12-mile South Lawrence Trafficway Trail, which follows Kansas Highway 10 along Lawrence’s southern and western edges.

There are still gaps, though, particularly at the north end of the Burroughs Creek Trail and west of the Sandra Shaw Trail. Completing them means grappling with issues like acquiring land in the county or, in more urban areas, public safety and crossing private property.

“How do you get from the Santa Fe Depot through downtown?” FLAT’s Dinneen asks. “There are some big issues that have to be resolved.”

FLAT’s initial goal was the Lawrence Loop, but its mission has since expanded to develop, promote and maintain trail systems throughout Douglas County and northeast Kansas. To do that, it works with organizations including the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club, horseback riding groups, the Audubon Society and others.

Women of Running for the Hill (l-r) Leilani Jauregui, Kristina Selters, Angie Hagan, Ellen Young, Jackie Wilson, Renee Rose, Stephanie Aldridge and Arron Estes

Integrating People, Place

It’s about more than walking and hiking paths and trails, though. FLAT strives to integrate people into those places in sometimes unexpected ways. The organization in April encouraged users to look for creatures that live (or that people wish lived) along one of Lawrence’s trails and then create a picture or sculpture, write a poem and share it all on FLAT’s Instagram page.

“There were these sloths made out of paper mâché and hung on a tree on the Burroughs Creek Trail. It was hilarious, and it stayed up until the weather took it,” Dinneen says.

In September, FLAT, the Lawrence Public Library and Watkins Museum of History hosted “Prize the Lawrence Loop,” an event encouraging people to walk, bike, run or roll the Lawrence Loop, then submit a photograph for a chance at prizes.

When the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners invited Van Go apprentice artists to paint a mural on the 31st Street underpass near Broken Arrow Park, FLAT cheered them on. The mural, which pays homage to the area’s historically indigenous people and wildlife, was completed in October.

Dinneen hopes to see even more activities that enable people to enjoy art, music, theater and more along the area’s trails.

“It’s the perfect way to collaborate with other organizations and create more community,” Dinneen explains. “That’s what Lawrence is about.”

Striking Out From the Loop

Paths included in the Lawrence Loop are all paved and generally 10 feet wide, making them accessible to walkers, bikers, hikers and those with disabilities. It also connects to destinations such as the 14-acre Lawrence Rotary Arboretum, near Kansas Highway 10 and Wakarusa Drive, which features a pergola, gardens, ponds, waterfall and outdoor stage.

“That’s a beautiful place to walk, and there are a ton of people who go there,” Ad Astra’s Jenkins says.

Lawrence residents also prize some of the area’s more natural destinations, including trails near the Kansas River and Clinton Reservoir. They’re rugged enough to satisfy enthusiasts yet still well within reach of those new to the activity, says Ryan Schwisow, owner and manager of Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., at 829 Massachusetts St.

“Hiking, in general, has really picked up,” Schwisow says. “Everyone who was staying at home and working from home has been getting out and hitting the Levee, hitting the trails.”

The Lawrence Levee Trail offers an unpaved but still accessible hike along the flood-control levee on the north shore of the Kansas River. Taken out-and-back, it adds up to 10 miles; hikers and mountain bikers can also split off onto the more adventurous Lawrence River Trails.

Clinton Lake’s North Shore Trails offer more than 20 miles of hiking through forests along the lake’s shore; hikers share another 35 miles of trails with horseback riders on the lake’s south shore. There aren’t any hills at the Baker University Wetlands Research and Natural Area, but there are 11 miles of trails through the restored ecosystem, which is rich with waterfowl. The five-mile trail system at the University of Kansas Field Station, located 15 minutes east of downtown, includes five interconnected loops showcasing both woodlands and native prairie.

Everyone hiking and walking those trails seems to want new shoes to do it in, but meeting that demand has proved challenging, retailers agree. Footwear retailers such as those in other sectors scaled back on inventory early in the pandemic. The rest of the supply chain similarly contracted. Then hiking and walking surged in popularity, causing shortages of some popular styles. In response, Brown’s has embraced new software that allows all the parent company’s franchise owners in 12 Midwest states to share inventory and better serve customers, Schwisow explains.

Customers increasingly appreciate being able to shop locally, and they understand the impact their purchases make, he continues. He, in turn, makes supporting Lawrence businesses a priority of his own.

“We keep our money local,” Schwisow says. “The money spent here goes directly to our schools and our economy.”

Ad Astra’s Jenkins says trails and paths are more than just amenities for residents. They’re assets well worth prioritizing, because they draw people to Lawrence, help keep them healthy and contribute to the economy.

“People are more aware now than ever the importance of maintaining good health and being active,” he continues. “People are going to gravitate toward a town that has made that a priority.

“I feel fortunate to live in a community that is actively taking steps to help people live healthier lives,” Jenkins says. p

RESOURCES

• Friends of Lawrence Area Trails – www.flatks.org
• Gary Gribble’s Running Sports, (785) 856-0434; 839 Massachusetts St.
• Ad Astra Running; 734 Massachusetts St.; (785) 830-8353 – www.adastrarunning.com
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy – www.railstotrails.org/resource-library/resources/new-data-underscores-need-for-safe-places-to-walk-and-bike-close-to-home/
• Regional Pedestrian Plan – assets.lawrenceks.org/mpo/pedplan/RPP-PartII-Lawrence.pdf
• City of Lawrence Pedestrian Planning – lawrenceks.org/mpo/pedplan/
• City of Lawrence Sidewalk Improvement Program – lawrenceks.org/sidewalk-improvement/
• Lawrence Loop – lawrenceks.org/loop/
• Lawrence Arboretum – lawrenceks.org/lprd/parks/rotaryarboretum/
• Haskell Rail-Trail – www.traillink.com/trail/haskell-rail-trail/
• Clinton Lake North Shore Trails – www.kansastrailscouncil.org/trails/clinton-lake-north-shore-trails/
• Baker Wetlands – www.bakeru.edu/history-traditions/the-wetlands/
• KU Field Station – biosurvey.ku.edu/nature-trails
• Lawrence Levee Trail – www.traillink.com/trail/lawrence-levee-trail/
• Lawrence Riverfront Park – lawrenceks.org/lprd/parks/riverfrontpark/