(COLUMBIA, MO) -
Preliminary work began Tuesday, March 19 for the Hinkson Creek Trail: Shepard to Rollins project.
The initial stage of the project is the removal of a limited number of trees. Eighteen trees have been identified by a Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) environmental specialist as trees with characteristics of bat roosting habitat. At this time of year, bats are hibernating in caves and are not roosting in the trees. Potential roost trees can be cut from Oct. 1 to March 31.
Staff from Columbia Parks and Recreation and Columbia Public Works walked the trail with MoDOT staff, identifying the trees to be removed.
Work began Tuesday with tree removal on the trail portion that crosses the University of Missouri property. There are 13 trees set for removal on this route.
Five of the trees are located on a tract owned by the organization It’s Our Wild Nature. The City of Columbia was recently granted easements to extend the trail through the property.
Of the total of 18 trees, staff identified 14 of them as being dead.
Once trail construction is complete, the City will implement a tree restoration plan, similar to the one used for the Flat Branch Sewer project along the MKT Trail. City staff will work with neighbors and interested parties to replant and restore trees and native plantings along the trail.
The Hinkson Creek Trail: Shepard to Rollins trail is a joint project between Columbia Parks and Recreation and Columbia Public Works GetAbout Columbia project. It is located on an existing sewer easement and will start at the east end of Rollins Street, cross the Hinkson Creek and connect to the north at the cul-de-sac at Bluffdale Drive and to the south at Stadium Boulevard.
The trail will provide an important link in the north-south section of the 30-mile trail loop around Columbia, allowing residents north of I-70 access to the MKT Trail and downtown Columbia. It will also provide non-motorized transportation access for students to the University of Missouri campus.
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