Potential Ash Grove trail system stalls without funds: Mayor Smith searching for options, could cost up to $5 million

Ash Grove may eventually have a trail system as the city searches for ways to fund the multi-million dollar project. 

The plan currently lacks monetary support, a problem that Mayor Caleb Smith is looking to resolve. 

The trail system would span across Ash Grove, providing a walking trail for citizens who would otherwise have to tread on highways to cross the municipality. It was proposed at an Ash Grove Board of Aldermen meeting in September of 2025 where a design was unveiled. 

The trail would hopefully do more than provide a walking path said Smith, it could hold a dirt trail for bikes or other recreation. It would also meander near Cub’s Lake, in west town, where Smith said outdoor education could be in play for youngsters. 

Safety a priority

Recreation is nice to have in a city, but safety is imperative, said Smith. According to him, Ash Grove has many citizens who primarily get around the city on foot, but the city has no infrastructure that would allow a pedestrian to walk from one side to the other without having to negotiate dangerous highways. This trail would provide a safe alternative and allow one to cross the city without fearing traffic.

“[We were] just trying to come up with solutions,” said Smith. “We’ve had a lot of people that walk [Highway] 160 quite a bit, some of them are disabled and in wheelchairs. We want to be one of those communities where you can walk to everything, the park and you can get to Main Street.”

Exceptional price tag

A conservative estimate places the total for the project at about $2 million, while Smith said that price could reach up to $5 million at the high end. This is a hefty sum for a city as small as Ash Grove but the amenities and safety that could be offered by the trail are hard to pass up, so Smith has begun searching for alternative funding methods to make the development a reality without putting too much strain on the taxpayer. 

“Just being a small town, it’s like, man, how do you get the support without going to our taxpayers, you know,” said Smith.

Smith is currently in talks with multiple organizations that could help share some of the financial burden. He has been in contact with officials of Greene County, local representatives and a certain large, Springfield-based fishing company.

The city already has plans drawn up for the walking trail and are currently in talks to complete some preliminary work on Cub’s Lake to make sure it’s suitable for use.

Smith said he plans to hold multiple city hall gatherings in the future to gauge the interest of the citizens before going forward with the plan, but he thinks that it could be a great addition to the city.