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Adopt-A-Trail
The City of St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteer organizations to adopt portions of the City's hike and bike trail system.

St. Joseph Cycling Information

Hike and Bike Trail commercial    MPEG

The Urban Trail System, a network of 10’ concrete trails and traditional sidewalks, links the public to neighborhoods, schools, recreational opportunities, shopping, work, and provides an opportunity for general fitness in a safe environment.

In the 1980’s it was originally envisioned that a system of trails and sidewalks would run along the Parkway System linking Hyde and Krug Parks. Updates to that concept recognized that other greenways (areas where walkers and bikers can operate more safely with few or no at-grade crossings on highways or streets) were available to provide similar amenities along abandoned railroad corridors - called Rails to Trails.

St. Joseph is blessed with great neighborhoods and a beautiful environment – from soaring bluffs to the Missouri River – that make each existing and future segment of trail appealing to the walker and biker.

More Information
More information for each segment of existing trail can be found by clicking below:

• Northwest Parkway - Ferndale to Lovers Lane
• Northwest Parkway South - Corby Pond to Lovers Lane
• Corby Parkway - Corby Pond to Ashland
• Bartlett Park - Bartlett Park to 28th/Commercial.
• Chicago & Rock Island - 28th/Commercial to 36th St.
• Chicago & Rock Island East - 36th St. to Riverside Road
• Southwest Parkway North - 28th/Commercial to 22nd St.
• Southwest Parkway - Mansfield Road to 22nd St.
• Southwest Parkway South - Hyde park to Mansfield Road

Coming Soon:

• Corby Parkway - Corby Pond to Maple Leaf Parkway (under construction)

Hike and Bike Trail Map
This map shows the routes that are either completed, are under design at this time, or are possible in the future.. It does not distinguish between those components of the system, or between the sections utilizing 10’ concrete trails and traditional sidewalk systems. Remember, trails aren’t meant to replace traditional sidewalks, but to link them through greenways

Urban Trail Distances
Link to Urban Trail distances. Distances shown are in linear feet. 5,280 feet equals 1 mile.

Funding
The bulk of the Urban Trail System has been constructed via a combination of sources. Sidewalks have been installed by developers as the community grew. New sidewalks in new neighborhoods are constructed by developers and homebuilders to connect to other sidewalks and provide access to the rest of the City.

The multi-use trails have been funded by Congress through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and its successor legislative updates. The program ISTEA funds is called “enhancements”.

Local funding match has been provided in most part by the 1993, 1998 and 2003 Capital Improvements Sales Taxes, which are a 1/2 sales tax approved by the residents of St. Joseph for public improvements. The tax sunsets five years after approval and have been extended by the voters prior to expiration many times. The Bode Trust funded the local match for the first several phases of the trail component.

Future Trail Map
St. Joseph is fortunate in that it was once served by a plethora of railroad companies utilizing significant rail line mileage. Most have been abandoned, but some have been preserved by either the City of St. Joseph (within the City limits) or a railroad company itself. Each has the potential, if developed, to link yet more neighborhoods to the opportunities enjoyed in other segments of the community.