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Wamego Community Foundation Awarded More Than $35,000 in Grants for Wam-Sag-Man Trail - January 07, 2009
(Jan. 7, 2009) Wamego, KS — The Wamego Community Foundation has been awarded more than $35,000 in grant monies to support the Wam-Sag-Man Trail project. Grants awarded include $15,000 from the Sunflower Foundation and $10,129 from the Kansas Health Foundation, Topeka, and $10,000 from the Bikes Belong Coalition, Boulder, CO. The Wam-Sag-Man Trail is a biking, jogging, and walking trail that will connect the towns of Wamego, St. George, and Manhattan to 26 miles of existing multi-use path.
“We are excited that the Sunflower Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation and Bikes Belong Coalition recognized the need for the trail and that they chose our project to help support,” said Julie Roller, development associate with the Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation. Roller applied for the grants for the Sunflower Foundation and Bikes Belong Coalition, and Diane Novak, trail committee chair, submitted the KHF grant.
“The purpose of the trail is to eliminate the need for users having to share busy roads with vehicles,” Novak said. “It will provide a safe place for children and families to exercise together as well as walk and bicycle to school and work.”
According to Novak, national studies show the development of bicycle and pedestrian facilities has proven to be a wise economic investment for the communities through which they pass.
“Trails and pathways have a positive effect on nearby properties as homebuyers and businesses realize the value that such facilities bring to a community,” Novak said. “Many businesses, including restaurants, convenience stores, bicycle shops, campgrounds and bed and breakfast establishments, attribute at least part of their success to a nearby trail. They recognize the benefits of bicycle and pedestrian facilities and the value of properties located close to such facilities.”
Locally and nationally, bicycle and pedestrian facilities have also proven to be a cost-effective use of public funds. The construction of multi-use trails allows more Americans to replace automobile trips with non-motorized trips, thereby moving the nation closer to achieving national and community public health objectives by providing increased opportunities for physical exercise.
Numerous bike rallies and fundraising events, including the annual Cabin Fever Challenge in March and the Yellow Brick Road Ride in October, have been held and the trail fundraising committee continues to work on public fundraising and developing partnerships with local businesses. Committee members are Linda and Chuck Burton, Ed Klimek, Keith Ratzloff, Julie Roller and Tim Ryan, Manhattan; Joyce Mermis, Dave Karnowski and Bob Cole, Wamego; and Diane Novak, St. George.
For more information about the trail project, visit the Wam-Sag-Man Trail website at www.wam-sag-man.org or the Wamego Community Foundation website at www.thewcf.org.
About the Wamego Community Foundation
The Wamego Community Foundation was established in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. It created an efficient mechanism through which individuals, families, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and private foundations have been able to create funds and make gifts to benefit Wamego and surrounding communities. Since its inception, the Foundation has received approximately $1.2 million in gifts and donations and has distributed back more than $500,000 to the community, including scholarships, the Wam-Sag-Man recreation trail, and the Wamego City Park Train Enhancement Project, just to name a few.
| Wamego Community Foundation • PO Box 25 • Wamego KS 66547 • P: 785-456-8444 • F: 785-456-8443 • E-mail |