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Katy Trail sees boost in visitors

While much of the country struggles with the recession, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports businesses in the small towns along the Katy Trail, a 225-mile former railroad right-of-way that connects St. Charles and Clinton, Mo., are thriving.

From January to July, 62,794 people hiked, jogged or biked the section of Katy Trail State Park between St. Charles and Weldon Spring, according to an estimate by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. That's up from the 41,661 users in the same period last year.

The Post-Dispatch article attributes the boost to two reasons: better weather in 2009 than in 2008 and the desire of many people to stay closer to home for low-cost recreational activities.

Tour of Missouri spectators will get two chances to encounter the trail if they want to get some miles in. Stage 4 on Thursday ends in Jefferson City, which is just across the Missouri River from the Katy Trail. The Stage 5 individual time trial is Friday in Sedalia, and there's three access points to the course from the Katy Trail.

Labels: Katy Trail, Missouri

Roger 0 comments 9:49 AM