Mills Park Trail getting resurfaced - anyone know when it closes?

Saw the city got the $157,000 ARDOT grant for the Mills Park Trail back in October and I haven't heard a thing since about when they're actually starting. MySaline had the story if you missed it. Supposedly the whole 1.4 miles gets redone.

I run it a few mornings a week when it's not raining and the roots are no joke. There's a stretch where the pavement is all heaved up and I've almost wiped out twice, once was just after that big rain we had, couldn't see it in the puddle. Honestly it's way worse than it was when I started going out there a couple years ago.

So a few questions... who else uses it, and where are the worst spots for you? Also does anyone know if they'll close the whole thing or do it in sections? If it's closed all spring I need to find somewhere else to go, and I'd hate for it to drag into hunting season too, since I cut through that way sometimes.

If somebody at city hall knows a timeline please share lol

Oh the roots, yes 😅 I walk it with my sister-in-law a couple evenings a week and I've learned to watch my feet the whole time. The worst part for us is that stretch where the big trees crowd the path. The pavement is humped up like something's trying to come out from underneath. Those puddles hide it too, like you said.

I haven't heard a start date either. From what I know about how these state grant projects go, there's usually bidding first, then scheduling, so I wouldn't be shocked if "soon" turns into summer or later. I'd bet they do it in sections, since 1.4 miles is a lot to shut down at once, but that's just a guess. Maybe call city hall or watch the city's page, they usually post closures.

I'm just glad Bryant went after the grant. And I really hope they use a local crew, we need those jobs staying in Saline County 🙂

Hope this helps

Yeah that stretch with the big trees is the one I almost ate it on. Right where it humps up before the little bridge, I think.

Still nothing on the city page as of this week, so I'm guessing you're right about bidding taking a while. I'll try calling city hall Monday and post here if I get an actual answer. Honestly summer wouldn't be terrible if they did it in sections, as long as it's not all of it at once.

We've had so much rain lately that I've been stuck on the treadmill anyway, ugh

That hump before the little bridge has been bad for years... I quit walking it after a rain because of it. Let us know what city hall says.

Sections would suit me fine. Better they wait until it dries out than pave over a soggy base and be back out there in two years...

Just my two cents

Yeah the local crew thing would be nice, but I think with state money they just take the lowest bid and whoever wins wins. Hope I'm wrong on that.

Bidding makes sense, I just didn't know that's how the grant stuff works. Still planning to call Monday so I'll post whatever they say, even if it's just "no clue yet" lol.

And Joyce is right about not paving over a wet base. With how March goes around here, storms every other week, it probably can't start until it dries out anyway. I'd rather it wait than get done wrong and heave up again in two years.

I live over by Mills Park so I'm on that trail most weeks, mostly on my bike. That hump before the little bridge got me last fall, I'm pretty sure it's what knocked my front wheel out of true. Sections would be fine with me, and I'd take that over a rushed job that cracks again.

Thanks for calling Monday, curious what they say. If they close the whole thing all summer I'm gonna have to figure out a new route for my morning coffee run lol