Construction on a roughly $2.5 million trail extension will begin November 16, creating a new connection between southeast Lincoln neighborhoods and the city’s broader trail network.
The Beal Slough Trail Extension Project will extend the Helen Boosalis Trail from South 56th Street and London Road southeast through the Beal Slough greenway to Pine Lake Road, then continue to South 70th Street and Yankee Hill Road. A large portion of the project is expected to be completed by September 2027, weather permitting.
Lincoln Parks and Recreation Trails Manager Alex Duryea said the extension will cover approximately 2.2 miles and make use of existing underpasses beneath Pine Lake Road. “So this will actually make a nice connection all the way down in the southeast Lincoln and connect residents all along there to the main trail network that we’ve got throughout the rest of our city as well,” Duryea told KLIN News.
The project follows a greenway that Duryea said has been somewhat underutilized, although the Beal Slough Disc Golf Course has brought more activity to the area in recent years. The new trail will also pass through Jonathan Gapp Park near South 70th Street and Yankee Hill Road.
Duryea said the trail will be built to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, expanding access for people with mobility limitations. He said the route will bring users closer to trees and natural areas that have historically been harder to reach.
Construction is expected to cause some temporary disruptions at the disc golf course, where the city is coordinating with the disc golf group to remove some items during the work. Duryea said he does not anticipate street closures.
The existing Pine Lake Road underpasses will help limit construction impacts. “Underpasses are already built there from a from a prior project, so we won’t have to touch any of that,” Duryea said.
Because the route follows a drainage corridor, Duryea said the trail is being designed to withstand occasional flooding, with culverts used where necessary. The greenway also provides habitat for wildlife.
Duryea said residents have emailed him expressing excitement about gaining access to more of Lincoln’s trail system. The project has been in development for years, with challenges including coordination with the railroad for an underpass.
The federal Transportation Alternatives Program will cover 80% of the project’s funding, with the remaining 20% supplied by city parks impact fees. More information about Lincoln’s trails is available at lincoln.ne.gov/trails.