Community Celebrates Dedication of New Two-Mile Hike & Bike Trail Extension

The sun came out, and the fog lifted just in time for community partners to gather and celebrate the official dedication of Arkansas City’s new two-mile Hike & Bike Trail extension. This new stretch ties directly into the existing route, creating a loop of roughly 4.2 miles.

The City of Arkansas City partnered with the Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce to hold a ribbon-cutting on November 25, 2025, at La Hacienda South LLC. City Commissioner Diana Spielman, owner of La Hacienda South, had the honor of cutting the ribbon. She has been a strong advocate for the trail, encouraging nearby businesses and neighbors to connect to it, and worked with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Pathways to a Healthy Kansas program — with support from RISE Cowley — to secure grant funding for new amenities in the area.

Through the Pathways III “Food Retail” grant package, the site received funding for a bike rack, a bench, a water tower, and a fridge for fresh produce. The improvements were intentionally designed to tie directly into the trail system so the space could better serve the public and support overall community well-being.

The extension runs from Paris Park Pool to West Lincoln Avenue and continues on to the Cowley College Sports Complex, strengthening the link between several major recreation areas.

In June, City Commissioners approved an updated funding agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for Phase 2 of the Hike & Bike Trail Extension project — a revision that ultimately saved the City more than $341,000. Under the original 2021 agreement, federal funding was capped, and the City was responsible for any costs above that limit, plus a 20 percent match. The updated agreement removed that cap, allowing KDOT to fund 80 percent of all construction and construction-engineering costs.