Around Wichita on Two Thin Wheels

By Joe Stumpe, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.

May 28–Imagine a big number “9″ lying on its side. That’s the shape of the route that Eagle network and communications manager Dennis Hardin and I took on our six-hour, 50-mile cycling tour of Wichita.

We came away impressed with the general condition of the city’s bike paths and some of the off-the-beaten-track sights they offer. But we wished that they were better marked and that links connecting them were in place.

Here’s the loop around the city we made and how the trails stacked up; check the accompanying map for detailed directions:

1. Maize and 37th to Ridge and 21st (4 miles)

Grade: B

Condition: Path is in great shape.

Highlights: Horses and farms give way to the bustling NewMarket Square along Maize Road, which gives way to well-manicured housing developments and more businesses on 21st. With the rush of traffic, it isn’t a quiet ride in the country.

Warning: Watch for vehicles entering and leaving 21st from side streets and parking lots.

Moving on: A stoplight at 21st and Ridge provides protection from traffic while getting to the next stage of the trail, which begins on the southeast corner of the intersection. A sign guiding cyclists to that point would be helpful.

2. Sedgwick County Park to Arkansas River (3.2 miles)

Grade: B+

Conditions: Good except for Westdale section, where the path is narrow and marred by what Hardin calls “the great American sport of throwing beer bottles.”

Highlights: Access to playgrounds, ponds and ball fields in the county park, plus the zoo and extension office. Nine miles of trails run in and around county park.

Warnings: Watch for traffic in the park.

Moving on: Connects directly with Big Arkansas River Park.

3. Big Arkansas River Park to Seneca (4.25 miles)

Grade: A

Conditions: Good. Path is far removed from traffic most of time.

Highlights: Very scenic. At Big Arkansas River Park, path drops down to the river, which rushes over the 21st Street dam and then meanders between sandbars and sloping green lawns.

In Sim Park, paths follow both banks of the river, shaded much of the way, with bridges connecting them at Central and Amidon. The paths pass a golf course and Cowtown and are near Botanica, the Wichita Art Museum and Riverside Park system.

Moving on: Path on south bank of river is closed at Seneca but should be opened later this year when improvements to the Keeper of the Plains statue are complete.

We take the path on the north bank of the river, which follows Central over the Little Arkansas to downtown. This path will connect with a new path on the east bank of river expected to open later this year.

4. Seneca to the old South YMCA (6 miles)

Grade: C

Conditions: Much of the path south of Kellogg is extremely bumpy due to extensive patching. Riders are more exposed to prevalent southerly winds here than anywhere else.

Highlights: When all sections of the paths along the river are open, they will offer great views of the elevated Keeper of the Plains statue, the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers, Exploration Place and the downtown skyline.

The old South Y features a thriving community garden and playground. The path also skirts Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and Watson Park.

Moving on: Construction is expected to begin next year on a bike path connecting the old South Y to Planeview Park, about 3.5 miles to the northeast. It will pass through Chapin Park, a former landfill on the river’s south bank.

For now, cyclists wanting to get there must dodge traffic along Hydraulic, MacArthur and K-15. We take a mile-long detour to Emery Park, south of MacArthur, where a BMX bike track is located.

5. Planeview Park to Cessna Park (3.5 miles)

Grade: A

Conditions: Path is in good shape, but signs directing cyclists to the next phase of each trail are lacking.

Highlights: A colorful bridge decorated with aeronautical symbols marks the woodsy entrance to Cessna Park. From there the trail climbs a gentle green slope to Woodlawn. Recreational facilities and picnic areas are in Planeview and Cessna parks.

Moving on: An east-west path connecting Cessna Park with an existing bike trail at Rock and Pawnee, a distance of about 1.1 miles, is planned and funded but not yet built. There is a decent-size shoulder along Pawnee.

Note: Cyclists heading north can pick up the Gypsum Creek trail about one block north of Cessna Park. We follow this path several miles before doubling back; it’s marked by rock outcroppings and wildflowers along the creek. The trail ends at Douglas Avenue in Eastborough.

6. Rock to Greenwich (3.25 miles)

Grade: B

Conditions: Path is wide, clean and smooth.

Highlights: Not a lot to see besides apartments, houses and commercial buildings.

Warnings Watch for traffic entering and leaving side streets.

Moving on: A bike trail that’s been proposed but not funded would follow Greenwich east to 127th, then north to Kellogg.

We take Kellogg east to Highway 96, then north to the 127th Street exit.

7. East Central to Grove Park (11 miles)

Grade: A

Conditions: Path is in good shape except for a short section between Webb and Rock.

Highlights: This stretch of trails offers some of the most varied riding in the city. It starts with a pleasant greenway out east, then skirts commercial and residential areas before reaching Chisholm Creek Park.

The Chisholm path runs alonga nature preserve area echoing with bird calls and decorated with metal animal sculptures.

Cyclists can pick up the next leg of the trail about two blocks south of the park on Oliver. It rounds tilled fields and follows the creek through a quiet residential area to Hillside.

At Hillside, the trail enters Grove Park, passing basketball courts and playgrounds before ending.

Warnings: Stoplights offer protection when crossing most of the major north-south streets, but cyclists should still be careful. Signs directing cyclists are lacking.

Moving on: The city has plans but no money budgeted for a trail connecting Grove Park with the Canal Route bike path that runs north-south under I-135.

We follow side streets to the Canal Route’s north end at 17th, a distance of about 2 miles.

8. 17th Street to downtown (3 miles)

Grade: B

Conditions: Path under I-135 is in good shape, although area around it needs to be cleaned up.

Highlights: The elevated I-135 provides shade for the path below. McAdams Park offers a long green space to the west. Douglas carries cyclists to Old Town’s shops and restaurants.

Warnings: Be cautious crossing streets that pass under I-135.

Moving on: This is where our trip ends.

Reach Joe Stumpe at 316-269-6752 or jstumpe@wichitaeagle.com [mailto:jstumpe@wichitaeagle.com].

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.

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