Wolf Creek Connector Trail open for business

Ready, set, go for a walk or run on the newly completed Wolf Creek Connector Trail. On Tuesday afternoon, the Poplar Bluff Trail Coalition hosted an inaugural run on the freshly paved path linking the trail on PP Highway to Wolf Creek.

With only a brief portion on the shoulder, it is now possible to walk on paved trails from where Shelby Road merges with Highway 53 through the Wolf Creek trailhead. President of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce Steve Halter said the effort has been in progress since 2019.

He noted one of the foremost goals of the project was to improve safety. Halter remembered seeing children riding bicycles on the shoulder of PP Highway before the effort began.

“You’ve got to get people off this road,” he recalled.

Working closely with a lengthy roster of community partners, the total project cost approached $900,000. The biggest contributors were the Missouri Department of Conservation with $400,000 and the state Missouri Department of Transportation with a Transportation Alternatives Grant of $300,000.

Halter praised the landowners along the route who donated easements and land for the trail.

“I really applaud everyone sticking with the whole project,” he remarked.

For the event on Tuesday, participants enjoyed a stark contrast in weather compared to the original date set for the run. A week earlier, the region was cloaked in snowfall and bitterly cold temperatures. When the approximately 50 runners and walkers took off at the starting line by the PP Highway roundabout, it was a balmy 70 degrees with sunshine abounding.

“It gets people out and moving,” Halter described the trail.

He noted there were individuals already walking and running on the trail before the event started.

“We’re not completely done,” Halter added there were still some minor details to complete.

However, he emphasized the importance of the completed trail for a healthy population.

“It takes trails like this,” Halter affirmed.

The PBTC awarded medals to the top male and female finishers of the run. Dan Mustain grabbed first place with a time of 20:32 while Macey St. Cin topped the female group at 27:08.

“I am super excited,” Halter reiterated. “It has been a lot of work, but I’ve had a lot of help.”