Cape Girardeau’s Parks and Recreation Department are planning some modifications to the city’s popular Cape La Croix Trail.
Parks and Recreation Director Julia Thompson says bicyclists and walkers will see some new items sooner rather than later.
“By next summer, those immediate improvements such as some new fitness or play equipment on the trail, new signage and better access, new drinking fountains, you’ll probably see some of that by next summer,” Thompson said.
Other elements of the master plan include trash receptacles and benches, and eliminating dangerous blind curves.
Thompson says the biggest change will come when officials widen the trail.
“The trail is now 8 feet. A standard trail should be 12 feet to allow for people to come and go on both sides usually either walking or riding,” Thompson said. “So hopefully we’ll widen the trail to 12 feet where possible and where we can.”
Thompson says there is still no timeline for widening the trail.
Approximately $70 ,000 of the city’s parks and stormwater tax goes toward the trail each year. Thompson says the city will look for some additional funding from the Missouri Department of Transportation for some of the more expensive items.
The master plan must be approved by City Council.