RiverSide Jogging Trail

[CoffeeBean]

Anyone know of plans to return the mile markers to the new trail?  Doesn't seem necessary to wait until the entire trail is complete.  I'd like to see markers every quarter mile with a larger trail map at 21st, 31st, 41st, etc. with distances for popular paths, e.g. the big and small loops around Zink Lake, or just distances for each major segment of the trail.  Would really improve the functionality.   

[carltonplace]

I wondered about markers too. Hilti installed the last set that were on the east side.

I saw that the trail south of Crow Creek as both asphalt and gravel surfaces which is cool. Most people seem to prefer the wider asphalt portion.

[charky]

I wondered about markers too. Hilti installed the last set that were on the east side.

I saw that the trail south of Crow Creek as both asphalt and gravel surfaces which is cool. Most people seem to prefer the wider asphalt portion.

I run with a GPS watch...so it's not as much of an issue. I just assumed that the trail markers would be put back in as a "finishing touch". I'll ask some workers next time I'm running at the river. Maybe they'll know something.

And yes...the gravel portion south of Crow Creek (and along the newly opened section) is nice. Too bad it wasn't installed north of Crow Creek. Wonder if they got some feedback and decided to add to the south sections.

[sauerkraut]

Actually I am a runner...30-35 miles a week. Countless 5Ks/10Ks...half a dozen half marathons and one full marathon under my belt.

I just don't obsess over the condition of the Riverside trails. I take them for what they are...great and getting better!

Without the trails you'd be running on the streets facing threats from passing cars and getting hit with beer cans and other things passing cars throw. I ran on the streets before and had my share of things thrown at me from cars. No more I only run on the trails. I support the trails and encourage cities to build more of them and improve the trails they currently have.

[sauerkraut]

I run with a GPS watch...so it's not as much of an issue. I just assumed that the trail markers would be put back in as a "finishing touch". I'll ask some workers next time I'm running at the river. Maybe they'll know something.

And yes...the gravel portion south of Crow Creek (and along the newly opened section) is nice. Too bad it wasn't installed north of Crow Creek. Wonder if they got some feedback and decided to add to the south sections.

Yes that is one thing I noticed, I like the mile markers. The trails in Omaha are marked every 1/10 of a mile with a disc buried in the pavement. I ran a section of the new RiverSide trail Sunday Morn. I did a hard 4-miler...  I parked at the lot by 40th street. The new trail is darn nice, I don't know of any other trails that keep runners and bike riders seprate but I like it, no more bikes wizzing past. I'll tell ya one thing that new section of trail seems a bit "Califorian" to me, it reminds me of the Santa-Monica Bike trail in California, with the playground, kids running about, SunShine, blue skys, and heavy trail traffic with the river water near by- the only thing missing is the surfboards and the swimmers.

[sauerkraut]

The one thing I noticed is sections of the new trail seem very close to the river, at one area just south of the playground the trail comes to about 10' of the river, I wonder if in time erosion will eat away the River bank & land and the trail. A section of the Olentangy Bike-Jog trail in Columbus, Ohio fell into the Olentangy River from erosion back in the mid-1990's, (when the Olentangy trail was built it was 30' from the river bank). The area by the playground has alot of big rocks to protect the riverbank from erosion, but the rocks stop when the playground ends. I think they need to make sure river bank erosion won't be a problem.

[waterboy]

The one thing I noticed is sections of the new trail seem very close to the river, at one area just south of the playground the trail comes to about 10' of the river, I wonder if in time erosion will eat away the River bank & land and the trail. A section of the Olentangy Bike-Jog trail in Columbus, Ohio fell into the Olentangy River from erosion back in the mid-1990's, (when the Olentangy trail was built it was 30' from the river bank). The area by the playground has alot of big rocks to protect the riverbank from erosion, but the rocks stop when the playground ends. I think they need to make sure river bank erosion won't be a problem.

The trails have been here since the 1970's and though erosion is a perpetual problem, none of the path has sunken into the river. Before the paths, I ran along a footpath near the river that was unpaved. Cross country style. Some of it is still there. It is quite expensive to rip/rap every area where it runs close to the river. I suspect they will attack it piecemeal until money is available to fortify the banks. They will either re-route the path farther in or strengthen the embankment at weak points.

[sauerkraut]

The trails have been here since the 1970's and though erosion is a perpetual problem, none of the path has sunken into the river. Before the paths, I ran along a footpath near the river that was unpaved. Cross country style. Some of it is still there. It is quite expensive to rip/rap every area where it runs close to the river. I suspect they will attack it piecemeal until money is available to fortify the banks. They will either re-route the path farther in or strengthen the embankment at weak points.

That's good news to hear. I don't know how bad a problem erosion is on the Arkansas River. Anyhoo,  the erosion I seen just south of the new playground did seem serious to me, one chain-link fence post fell into the abyss and that is not far from the new trail, they had lots of room to build the trail farther away from the river bank. Like I mentioned above, back in the 1990's a section of the Olentangy Bike Trail in Columbus, Ohio fell into the Olentangy River, the river bank had severe erosion and the trail was about 12" away from the abyss for about a year and no one did anything about it, no one tryed to fix it or build up the riverbank- the city just left it, Then one night after a big storm the river claimed the trail and a few big trees along the river bank, only then did they re-build the trail farther away and shore up the riverbank.

[sauerkraut]

The new trail sections do look nice, My guess and hope is they will put up the mile markers when the job is done. The far south end where the old trail is still open has the mile markers there.

[sauerkraut]

I did some Running on the RiverSide trail Sunday afternoon, the weather was great, the trail was busy and finding a parking spot was a bear. Tulsa needs to expand that parking lot at 45th & Riverside Drive where the Playground is, they have room to expand it South & North. I had to park at the lot around 21st & Riverside. I got to hand it to Tulsa they did a nice job building that trail and the little extra landings on the riverbank are nice. I wish they would focus on building the trail first and get that done & open then worry about the frills at a latter date. That closed off section is a real pain.

[Hoss]

I did some Running on the RiverSide trail Sunday afternoon, the weather was great, the trail was busy and finding a parking spot was a bear. Tulsa needs to expand that parking lot at 45th & Riverside Drive where the Playground is, they have room to expand it South & North. I had to park at the lot around 21st & Riverside. I got to hand it to Tulsa they did a nice job building that trail and the little extra landings on the riverbank are nice. I wish they would focus on building the trail first and get that done & open then worry about the frills at a latter date. That closed off section is a real pain.

Yeah, I'm sure the City will get right on that suggestion from a non-resident.

[sauerkraut]

Yeah, I'm sure the City will get right on that suggestion from a non-resident.

I'm sure everyone would want more parking no matter who they are. That lot on 45th fills up fast on weekends. More parking is badly needed, the jogging trail is heavley used on weekends- Runners & cyclists using the trail -and families using the playground all park there. A big problem I found is dog poop all over. Mile after mile along side the trail there is a poop pile in the grass. Very disgusting.

[carltonplace]

I'm sure everyone would want more parking no matter who they are. That lot on 45th fills up fast on weekends. More parking is badly needed, the jogging trail is heavley used on weekends- Runners & cyclists using the trail -and families using the playground all park there.

What about parking some where else and "jogging" to the jogging trail?
-or-
Park at 11th St? Or on the west bank in the GIANT parking lot next to the west festival park
-or-
Park in my neighborhood where everyone walks to the river instead of driving

A big problem I found is dog poop all over. Mile after mile along side the trail there is a poop pile in the grass. Very disgusting.

That is from the waterfowl you silly goose.

[sauerkraut]

What about parking some where else and "jogging" to the jogging trail?
-or-
Park at 11th St? Or on the west bank in the GIANT parking lot next to the west festival park
-or-
Park in my neighborhood where everyone walks to the river instead of driving

That is from the waterfowl you silly goose.

That won't work for me since I don't run on streets & roads, I did that before and had many close calls with cars and had all sorts of things thrown at me, cars & runners don't mix. I'm only a trail runner now where you don't have to worry about motor traffic. Maybe Riveside parking will open up once the other parking lots re-open from all the const. work south of 54th..

[Townsend]

That won't work for me since I don't run on streets & roads, I did that before and had many close calls with cars and had all sorts of things thrown at me, cars & runners don't mix. I'm only a trail runner now where you don't have to worry about motor traffic. Maybe Riveside parking will open up once the other parking lots re-open from all the const. work south of 54th..

And you lie.