Missouri State Parks will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Katy Trail with a ceremony dedicating the new picnic shelter at the North Jefferson trailhead in honor of Edward "Ted" and Pat Jones and their contributions to Katy Trail State Park. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the North Jefferson trailhead in Jefferson City.
During the ceremony, Missouri State Parks will recognize Pat Jones for her continued support of the trail, and Edward Jones, the financial services firm donating the cost for the picnic shelter. The Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable Trust, the city of Jefferson and other honorees will also be recognized.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Katy Trail State Park, the longest completed rail-trail conversion in the nation. The trail is built on the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, which ceased operations in 1986. The first section of Katy Trail was dedicated on April 28, 1990 at Rocheport. The trail runs from Machens to Clinton, a distance of approximately 240 miles. Today, nearly 400,000 visitors use the trail each year and a 2012 economic impact study found that Katy Trail-related expenditures made by trail users generate almost $18.5 million annually.
For more information about the event, call Katy Trail State Park at 573-449-7402. The North Jefferson trailhead is located north of Jefferson City, and can be reached by taking the Rt. W/Airport exit off Highway 54. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.