A major outdoor recreation destination that has been constructed over the last 40 years, the Poudre River Trail is almost ready to open its last section. According to a recent announcement from the City of Fort Collins, the final section of the trail—a route that will actually unite the people of Northern Colorado—will begin operations on Monday, November 25. This final section of the paved trail runs southeast from the Environmental Learning Center at Colorado State University to the Rigden Reservoir trail.
“I’m proud to be a part of a legacy project like this, and excited for all the benefits it will bring to those who enjoy using the trail,” said Greg Oakes, a landscape architect and co-project manager for the City of Fort Collins, expressing the community’s excitement. As the city gets ready to celebrate the impending completion of a project that will see a 45-mile continuous paved multi-use trail from Bellvue to Greeley, Oakes’ thoughts are presented.
Before developing into the current regional mainstay, the Poudre River Trail was formerly made up of disparate sections. A $2 million grant from the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Connect Initiative Program helped to support its last phases. It was crucial to have cooperative assistance from organizations including the Colorado Department of Transportation, the City of Fort Collins, and the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources.
Additional recognition was given to Great Western Railroad (OmniTrax) and Colorado State University for their collaboration, which made it possible for the City to construct the route over their properties. “Our partnerships provided a unique opportunity to build a city trail on state land and on, and along, a historic, active rail line,” Dave “DK” Kemp, senior trails planner and co-project manager, informed the City of Fort Collins. As locals anxiously await the trail’s full use, a celebration is being organized in collaboration with partner groups to formally mark the completion of the area’s remaining PRT parts.
Residents of Larimer and Weld counties have consistently prioritized connecting their towns through picturesque natural pathways, as seen by the trail’s existence, which is in contrast to forty years of public input and expectation. The trail circles the Cache la Poudre River, giving locals a sense of connection to nature that is dwindling as development increases. The Poudre River Trail’s completion guarantees locals a permanent, easily accessible outdoor area in the middle of their busy neighborhood.
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