photo by: Bremen Keasey

Chris Tilden (left) presenting a proposal to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Monday night for a new park north of Interstate 70. The idea, known as Cameron's Bluff Park, would add more trails along the Kansas River.

Lawrence board members expressed interest about a proposed plan to create a park north of Interstate 70 that would add more trails along the Kansas River and serve as an option to close the Lawrence Loop.

The proposed park, called Cameron’s Bluff Park, would add walking trails and a mountain biking trail in a site owned by the energy company Evergy that hugs the Kansas River north of I-70 close to the BNSF railroad.

The idea for the park had been worked on for over 20 years, according to Sarah Hill-Nelson, the owner and operator of Bowersock Mills & Power Co.’s hydroelectric plant. As the Journal-World reported, Hill-Nelson said she earned a “trails accelerator grant” in 2022 that aimed to explore the feasibility of trails in more developed areas. With the grant, Hill-Nelson commissioned the International Mountain Biking Association for a feasibility study, which reported in 2024 the space could be viable for development. The confirmation of a recreation easement that would allow the construction of trails along the river helped mean the project can connect to the city’s other trails — even potentially being a way the city can complete the Lawrence Loop.

In a presentation to members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Chris Tilden, the chair of Friends of Lawrence Area Trail, said initial planning would add about six to seven miles of walking trails — along with the possibility for mountain biking trails. Tilden said he thinks this is an important project that aligns well with much of the city’s strategic goals like connecting more to the riverfront.

Hill-Nelson said the park is so close to the heart of Lawrence, but she said that the IMBA staff that checked out the site said it felt like a great place to get away to nature.

“You could be so close to town but feel so far away,” Hill-Nelson said.

photo by: Bremen Keasey

The view of the Kansas River from the Riverfront Park in North Lawrence, with Interstate 70 in the background. A proposal from a community group aims to create a park with trail system along the river called Cameron’s Bluff Park.

Tilden said the “puzzle pieces” for the project are together, it just is a matter of getting more feedback and help to envision the park. Hill-Nelson said as part of the grant she won, the group needed to hold a public feedback meeting, and she wanted to ensure the city was involved with a presence there.

Board members said they found the idea attractive, and a pair of public commenters also spoke in favor of the project, but there were still some questions.

Jeff Allen, a property owner who owns land in between the site and Burcham Park, spoke out against the possibility of the proposed park. He worried about the “encursion on nature” and the potential environmental impacts. Allen added that the city has so many bike trails, he wondered if Lawrence “need(s) another bike trail.”

Additionally, a written public comment asked what impacts will happen with Douglas County because some of the project is outside of the city limits. Hill-Nelson said the group has spoken with some people with the county, and they will be an important stakeholder.

Board member Vicki Collie-Ackers asked about if there were environmental concerns on the project. Hill-Nelson said the project got an environmental impact survey done in 2023 by Courtney Masteron of the Native Lands Restoration Collaborative, which found there were no concerns about negative impacts. The report also said that there was potential to restore native vegetation to the proposed area, with Tilden telling the board he hopes that restoration is “built into the proposed solution.”

In terms of costs, Hill-Nelson and Tilden said their group has been leveraging private funds to help work on the project. Already, Evergy has agreed to allow for the use of its land, but Tilden said Evergy has been involved “since day one,” and has already agreed to develop its land into a park, including promising it would use some of its resources to help build the trails if it comes to fruition. The IMBA report estimates the cost to build the trails could range from $118,000 to $317,000 — with costs even lower if Evergy follows through in helping to build some of the trails.

Luis Ruiz, Lawrence’s Parks, Recreation and Culture director, said during the meeting he felt this was a good time for the project to be put in front of the board for starting a public process. Although the department can’t promise any firm commitments, Ruiz promised the city will be greatly involved and it sees value in the project, especially because one of the highest priorities for the department is expanding trails and access.

Though the project is still in its initial stages and many more people will have to come on board to help, it’s an idea he city is interested in pursuing.

“It’s going to take a village to make it happen, but we see the value in it,” Ruiz said.

photo by: Contributed

A map created by the International Mountain Bicycling Association which outlines the space north of Interstate 70 that a group of Lawrence residents are proposing can be turned into a park with a trail system called Cameron’s Bluff.