(The Marysville Advocate posted the following article on its website on December 22.)
MARYSVILLE, Kan. — The Nebraska Trail Foundation Inc. has purchased the 8.5-mile Union Pacific rail line from Marietta to Marysville and plans to build a public hiking/biking trail and conservation corridor, the foundation announced this week.
The purchase of the abandoned Union Pacific line completes an important section of the trail that is to between Marysville and Lincoln, Jerry Hoffman, president of the foundation, said.
The Marysville extension project received a challenge grant from the Olivia Garvey Lincoln Memorial Trust, Wichita, to develop the trail from Marysville to the Kansas-Nebraska border, he said.
The Marysville extension will link up with work already under way in Nebraska.
The Homestead Conservation and Trails Association is raising matching funds to complete the trail that runs south of Beatrice to the Kansas border, after completion of the north section, said Bob Feit, director of administrative services of the city of Beatrice Board of Public Works.
“The city of Beatrice is presently developing the portion of trail from the center of Beatrice to Pickrell, which will complete all but 10 miles of the 40-mile Lincoln-to-Beatrice section of the trail,” Feit said.
When this section is done, it will complete almost half of the Lincoln-to-Marysville trail, he said.
The UP sold the property from Marysville to Marietta to the Nebraska Trails Foundation for $10,000. The property represents about 8.5 miles of former railroad right of way.
UP began abandoning the right of way in 2000. The Nebraska Trails Foundation purchased the first 60 miles in February 2001 from Saltillo Road, south of Lincoln, to Marietta. Lancaster County purchased the north end of the property, 6.5 miles, from Sixth and South streets in Lincoln to Saltillo Road.
With the Marysville purchase, in the near future, a continuous public-use trail of about 75 miles will exist from Lincoln to Marysville. The entire Homestead Trail, including the Marysville to Marietta purchase, is “rail-banked” in accordance with the National Trails System Act.
Work on the Marysville to Marietta trail is expected to start by spring, Hoffman said.
“The purchase of the UP line is the result of a very good working partnership with community leaders in Marshall County,” he said. “This multi-use trail is a treasured public gift that will benefit many generations.”
Steve O’Neal, a Marysville City Council member, said the trail would add recreational options for local citizens and serve as an asset to the development opportunities of rural communities.
“We’re really pleased to work with the Nebraska Trails Foundation toward their purchase of the Marysville extension trail,” O’Neal said.
Ross Greathouse, Lincoln, founder and adviser to the Nebraska Trails Foundation, said that many local leaders and citizens are responsible “for building this magnificent trail.”
“We are so thankful to the Lincoln family and the fine people in Marysville, Kan., and Beatrice, Neb., for making this one of the finest trails in the U.S.,” Greathouse said.