Politics & Government
Sunset Hills Board Approves Expansion of Minnie Ha Ha Trail
At its meeting Tuesday night, the Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen approved a cooperation agreement to expand a walking trail from Minnie Ha Ha Park to the Tapawingo golf course.
The Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen unanimously approved an agreement between the city and the Great Rivers Greenway to begin developing a trail that, on phase one, will go from Minnie Ha Ha park to Tapawingo golf course. The city will provide all the design, engineering and construction of the project.
Gerald Brown, Sunset Hill’s director of parks and recreation, said the trail will have an estimated cost of $200,000. Brown said, however, that the city obtained a $100,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources, and will be receiving $75,000 from the Great Rivers Greenway district.
The trail will become part of the the Meramec River Greenway, which, according to the city’s Trail Master plan, its goal is to link parks, natural reserves, cultural features and historic sites along the Meramec River’s 50-mile corridor. In addition to Sunset Hills, six other municipalities border the river: Fenton, Kirkwood, Valley Park, Wildwood, Eureka and Pacific.
Brown said the trail will increase the quality of life of Sunset Hills citizens.
“Instead of taking your car and driving over the bridge, a family can walk over the bridge, down to Minie Ha Ha park, walk the trails, continue onto the athletic fields, and hopefully continue further down,” Brown said. “It’s just another means of transportation for people. A healthier one.”
As part of the master plan, Brown said the end goal for the city is to have a trail that goes from Minie Ha Ha all the way to Emmenegger park in Kirkwood.
“But that could take years,” Brown said.
Mayor Bill Nolan said the project has a good potential and hopes it will become another great feature of the city.
“I am not a trailwalker, personally,” Nolan said. “But I certainly can’t criticize those who are. I wish more people did it, it would be better for them. This will be a great resource for them ”
Brown said the goal of the parks and recreation department was exemplified by the trail master plan.
“I believe that’s the foundation of the parks and recreation department, to encourage people to go outside,” Brown said. “We all know that the U.S. is No. 1 in obesity and our kids are not getting outside like they used to. Our job is to try to get them be more involved, jog, play, just be out there.”