Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy
Organization Details
Sunflower’s goal is to establish an interconnected rail-trail system in the Sunflower State. Toward this end, Sunflower railbanks/conserves out-of-service rail lines and then finds local volunteer project coordinators to recruit volunteers to build the trails. To date we have two successes: the 6.5-mile Southwind Rail Rail between Iola and Humboldt and a two-mile section of the Osage Cuestas Trail which will stretch 19 miles between Fredonia and Chanute. The Conservancy is also working with a committee in Lyons to get portion of the 38-mile Quivira Trail built. We have three other rail-trails to develop when resources become available. We also serve as an information clearinghouse on rails-to-trails in the Sunflower State and as an advocacy organization.
Impact Story
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy, Inc. (SRTC) is a group of volunteers working to help other organizations develop trails in the state of Kansas. Our members live in various parts of the state, and have personal involvement with active trail groups. We monitor the availability of railroad abandonments, work to get them rail-banked, and work to find interested local people to begin development. Trails are places where families can enjoy the beautiful outdoors together. They are places where individuals may safely and healthily exercise. Trails, rail-trails particularly, also provide in modern times the original, essential purpose: to link communities together. We believe that an essential element of the health of present and future Kansas generations relies upon opportunities and encouragement towards an active lifestyle; and that an active lifestyle depends upon places where activity can occur.
The mission of the Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy is to: (I) promote and facilitate the development of recreational trails in the state for use by the general public; (2) educate the public on the benefits of recreational trails; (3) facilitate the formation of an alliance of organizations concerned with recreational trails in the state; (4) encourage the development of nature-based and recreation-based tourism and economic development; and, (5) cooperate with local, state, federal and private agencies concerned with the foregoing. The Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy was incorporated in 1987 as the “Rails-to-Trails Coalition of Kansas”. The organization re-organized in 2000 and changed its name to “Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy, Inc. in 2010. The Corporation was organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The organization was founded by Larry Ross and Clark Coan.
