FHT Achievements Celebration

On October 29th, 2022, the City of Osawatomie will be hosting a celebration in honor of recent achievements of the Flint Hills Trail State Park, including the FHWA Environmental Excellence Award and a $24.8 million RAISE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

City staff will begin the day by welcoming our invited and honored guests at 545 Main Street for a private breakfast and presentation on Osawatomie's sustainability initiatives, including an awards ceremony recognizing the winners of a poster designing contest held within Osawatomie Middle School classrooms. Following breakfast and the student awards, City staff will be hosting the first public Community Forum for its Electric Vehicle (EV) and Charging Station project (Osawatomie "Charging Forward") until 10:00am. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the forum to learn more about the project and its goals, and to ask questions one-on-one with City staff and Metropolitan Energy Center representatives.

Following the forum, we invite the public and our guests to gather at the Mile Zero trailhead (located at 1400 South Street) to celebrate the achievements of the Flint Hills Trail State Park and enjoy appearances from community and trail partners. The program features representatives from the State of Kansas, Federal Highway Administration, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and more who will remark on the Federal Highway Administration's Environmental Excellence Award and the U.S. Department of Transportation's RAISE grant award.

After a group photo under the iconic arched sign at 10:30am, cyclists will depart for Ottawa, Kansas, and enjoy a complimentary lunch at Ottawa's Legacy Square Park before returning to Osawatomie and ending the afternoon.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the day's festivities beginning with the Community Forum at 9:00am at 545 Main Street. The "there and back again" trail ride is also open to all, and is a self-paced ride. Riders are expected to support themselves and know their limits and abilities. Ottawa Bike and Trail, lunch sponsor and proud supporter of Kansas trails, ask that riders please RSVP to help ensure an accurate headcount for lunch.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE BIKE RIDE AND COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH