RiverSide Jogging Trail

[Red Arrow]

So we clear the river trails. We don't clear sidewalks, nor do we require anyone to do so. We don't even care if you push all that snow from your parking lot onto the sidewalk and pile it up into a mound that takes a month to melt.

From the township where I grew up.

http://www.springfielddelco.org/government/code-enforcement/code-permit-highlights.php
Sec. 120.6
Requires snow removal from sidewalks within 24 hours after snowfall.

Great moneymaker for teens.

[guido911]

River Parks Authority is not a city entity.

Come on CP, I know what it's legal status is. I just find it unusual (and it appears to me dumb) with 2-3 inches of snow on the ground to see clear jogging trails while the roads leading to the trails are covered in snow. This is to say nothing about the use of government resources/dollars--regardless how budgeted/allocated--for exercise when the resources/dollars could be spent on clearing roads. Just me.

[rdj]

RPA has their own crew.  They raise private dollars and receive public money to maintain the river trail.  They are doing what they are charged with, maintaining it by keeping it clear.  I'd be more upset if they weren't doing what they were charged with and I'm not even a regular user of the trail.

[guido911]

RPA has their own crew.  They raise private dollars and receive public money to maintain the river trail.  They are doing what they are charged with, maintaining it by keeping it clear.  I'd be more upset if they weren't doing what they were charged with and I'm not even a regular user of the trail.

If you find that spending public money on clearing jogging trails when the roads are a mess (and which impacts far more people), that's you. There is a finite amount of public money and to me using it in that fashion is nonsensical and should be reexamined. Again, just me.

[carltonplace]

If you find that spending public money on clearing jogging trails when the roads are a mess (and which impacts far more people), that's you. There is a finite amount of public money and to me using it in that fashion is nonsensical and should be reexamined. Again, just me.

RPA is a not for profit entity. Maybe they used donations to clear the jogging trails? I'm happy that they do this, it gives me a place to run that is not on a treadmill. 

[guido911]

RPA is a not for profit entity. Maybe they used donations to clear the jogging trails? I'm happy that they do this, it gives me a place to run that is not on a treadmill. 

You were running on those trails after the snowpacalypse? And don't get me wrong, authorities provide important services--and RFP is no different. It just strikes me that: "Yeah, our roads look like sh!t and there are car wrecks everywhere because of snow, but just look at our jogging/bike trails!!".

[carltonplace]

Yea, it's still an interesting run even though the trails are plowed there are often large icy patches. Running shoes are not exactly ice friendly.

[Red Arrow]

Yea, it's still an interesting run even though the trails are plowed there are often large icy patches. Running shoes are not exactly ice friendly.

Try some snow tires ice cleats.
http://www.runnersworld.com/other-gear/review-ice-cleats

[cynical]

All this means is that we should turn over the streets and an appropriate budget to the River Parks Authority. The River Parks Authority seems to operate without much drama, quietly getting the job done on time and within budget. The city's street maintenance department is a mess.

You were running on those trails after the snowpacalypse? And don't get me wrong, authorities provide important services--and RFP is no different. It just strikes me that: "Yeah, our roads look like sh!t and there are car wrecks everywhere because of snow, but just look at our jogging/bike trails!!".

[cynical]

I have a set of YakTrax Pros. They are a life saver on ice. You don't have to be a jogger to benefit, and they're useful on sidewalks, too. They even fit on dress shoes.

Try some snow tires ice cleats.
http://www.runnersworld.com/other-gear/review-ice-cleats

[guido911]

All this means is that we should turn over the streets and an appropriate budget to the River Parks Authority. The River Parks Authority seems to operate without much drama, quietly getting the job done on time and within budget. The city's street maintenance department is a mess.

You are on to something there...

[carltonplace]

Construction has begun to reconnect the trail at 11th St to New Block Park/Crosbie Heights and to the new I244 bridge
Also, the west bank trail is under construction, I think to bring it in to synch with the new wider trails.

Nearby at Riverside Dr and Denver all of the apartment buildings have been leveled up to 18th St, not sure what is planned for this parcel.

I had not been on the trail between 71st and 81st for awhile...it has also been reconstructed and is very scenic right now with lots of wildflowers growing up to the trail.

[Conan71]

Construction has begun to reconnect the trail at 11th St to New Block Park/Crosbie Heights and to the new I244 bridge
Also, the west bank trail is under construction, I think to bring it in to synch with the new wider trails.

Nearby at Riverside Dr and Denver all of the apartment buildings have been leveled up to 18th St, not sure what is planned for this parcel.

I had not been on the trail between 71st and 81st for awhile...it has also been reconstructed and is very scenic right now with lots of wildflowers growing up to the trail.

It no longer resembles a desert which is it's nickname on Strava.

[sauerkraut]

I did  a 4-miler Sunday afternoon on the RiverSide trails, I finished a bit before 4:pm, my  bum left knee is hurting my timing & pace but my knee is  improving, anyhow at 5:pm Channel 6 was there doing a live report about the Riverside trail and the 100 degree weather. So maybe if I was there latter the channel 6 newsgirl would of interviewed me even though I was soaked in sweat when I finished, some EMS units  were there to. BTW I was on Fox News back in April  2014  when I did the Boston Marathon  Tribute 3-mile run at Yale & 61st street, Fox News was out there filming it and I saw myself on TV on the evening news cast- I was  only on screen for about 5 seconds coming in with my group of runners. Fleet Feet at Yale & 61st  put on the Boston Tribute run. We went out running in groups of about 15-20 runners.

[sauerkraut]

I have not been down to the Casino area of the RiverSide Trail, but I hope they have started work on moving the jogging trail to the back of the casino.  It will be great when finished not to have to run across the casino driveway anymore dodging traffic and crazy drivers. They should of put the trail back there in the first place