Wichita’s top seven walking and biking path priorities

Wichita’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, put together by parks staff members, has identified the top seven priorities for Wichita biking and walking pathways.

The rankings represent the order of importance of each path, based on several factors, including connectivity to the rest of the area’s pathway system and the availability of funding or grants to get them done, said Parks and Recreation director Troy Houtman.

Here’s how they stack up.

7. Prairie Sunset Trail extension: Completing a 7.5-mile pathway on abandoned rail right-of-way from Goddard to the current trail terminus at the Arkansas River.

6. Redbud Trail Segment, K-96 to Butler County line: This 1.5-mile trail follows the former Burlinton Northern Santa Fe 17th Street railroad corridor.

5. Redbud Trail Segment, existing trail to K-96: A 3-mile pathway following the 17th Street rail corridor from Woodlawn to K-96.

4. South Central Neighborhood Pathway: A 2.78-mile trail on the east bank of the Arkansas River connecting to multiple existing pathways downtown and in the Delano area.

3. Arkansas to Haysville Pathway Connection: A 5.5-mile pathway connecting the city of Wichita and city of Haysville pathway systems.

2. K-96 to Harry Street Pathway: A 3-mile section of pathway from the current terminus of the K-96 Bike Path, along 127th Street to Harry, then west to connect to the existing off-street pathway on the south side of Harry.

And the No. 1 priority: Delano Neighborhood Pathway: A 0.6-mile path through the former rail corridor parallel to Douglas, half a block north of the Delano Business District.

This story was originally published May 30, 2016 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Wichita’s top seven walking and biking path priorities."