Adjacent landowners weigh in on trail
The goal of the Linear Trail Committee is simple: begin a walking path along the old railroad corridor.
Phase One of the proposed trail would begin at Lincoln Street and head west for three blocks, ending at Ash Street. The trail would be located between homes on First and Second streets, go between two bank buildings, and eventually end just north of the new Post Office.
But before proceeding any further, city officials say, one thing needs to be clarified:
What do the landowners want?
How would a home or business owner feel about a walking trail next to their house or building?
Here's what a few of them said.
— Dale Winter, 312 E. First
Winter, who's currently purchasing the house at 312 E. First, is adamantly against a walking trail behind his house.
He's concerned that a large number of people walking on the trail behind his home would be a nuisance.
"I don't want all that traffic," Winter said.
The city has other things it should use its finances on right now, he said.
— Elda Penner, 212 E. First
Penner's house is one lot away from the old railroad track. But her first choice for the old railroad line wouldn't be a park or trail.
"I think it should be opened up as a drive," Penner said.
But she would favor a walking trail or park as long as it looked attractive.
"I guess it would be OK if it would be kept clean," she said.
However, Penner would be concerned if the trail was full of people.
"I wouldn't like it to be very busy — high traffic," she said.
— Carl Long, president, Hillsboro State Bank, 200 N. Main
Before the city starts thinking about a possible walking trail along the old railroad line, one thing needs to be determined, Long said: who owns the land.
For example, the Hillsboro State Bank has a deed on record in the county courthouse, which says that the bank owns the railroad-line land that crosses its property, Long said.
The Central Kansas Conservancy shouldn't have any rights to that land, he said.
But once ownership is established, Long has no problem with the area being maintained or landscaped, he said.
— Carol Boucher, Boucher Red Barn antique store, 211 N. Main
Boucher is in favor of anything that beautifies the city, she said.
"I think it's a good idea," she said. "It needs something done to it."
The wide-open space between the Bouchers' antique shop and the Post Office is pretty barren, she said. Trees or landscaping would be an asset there.
"It would be a plus for the town," she said.
Boucher would even be willing to donate money to such a project, she said.
