Public Input Sought for the Mounds Heritage Trail Master Plan

Plan analyzes routes to connect Cahokia Mounds to Mounds in Old North St. Louis and Sugar Loaf Mound in South St. Louis Public meetings have been scheduled to seek input and comments on the draft Master Plan for the Mounds Heritage Trail in both Illinois and Missouri. The first meeting will be at St. Louis City Hall, Room 208, 1200 Market Street on August 2 from 4 - 7 PM. The second meeting will be held on August 4 at the Cahokia Mounds Museum, 30 Ramey St. Collinsville, IL from 4 - 7 PM. The Mounds Heritage Trail Master Plan analyzes routes to connect Cahokia Mounds to the historic Mound Sites in Old North St. Louis and to Sugar Loaf Mound in South St. Louis. The plan includes recommendations for on-road bike lane and separate bike path trail development and interpretation as well as an auto tour. Sights along the route thatare identified and suggested for interpretation include such iconic features as Chucalo Mound, The Majestic Theatre, Eads Bridge, the Gateway Arch, Soulard Market, Laclede Power Building and the National Road. Representatives of several partnering organizations will be present to discuss the various components of the plan. These organizations include The Confluence Partnership, Southwestern Illinois RC&D, Cahokia Mounds and others. The Mounds Heritage Trail Master Plan is supported with a planning grant from the National Park Service for connections to the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, and the Norman J. Stupp Foundation. Comments can be made at the meetings, by e-mail or letter until August 19.
Anyone interested in sending comments can write to ed.weilbacher@swircd.org or to Ed Weilbacher, SWIRC&D, 406 E. Main St., Mascoutah, IL 62258.