By Wayne Kruse – OneMarysville
The City of Marysville has received a $1.5 million Community Development Block Grant to help complete the Blue River Rail Trail Corridor, a major step toward transforming the former railroad corridor into a public gathering space and downtown connection to the Blue River Rail Trail.
The grant is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Combined with a previously awarded Transportation Alternatives grant and money raised locally, the funding moves a project that has been discussed for decades significantly closer to construction.
Mayor Todd Frye announced the award Monday during a gathering at Pony Park.
“I am proud and elated to announce that the City of Marysville has been awarded a $1.5M Community Development Block Grant in support of the completion of the corridor project!” Frye said.
The grant will fund three major components of the project: construction of a 10-foot-wide paved pedestrian and bicycle path, landscaping and lighting along the path, and improvements to curbs, streets and storm sewers within the corridor.
Rob Peschel, president of CES Group and a member of the corridor steering committee, outlined the improvements during Monday’s announcement. CES Group developed the corridor’s design with input from businesses, residents and community organizations.
The broader project will transform the former railroad right of way along Seventh Street into a landscaped public space connecting the Blue River Rail Trail with downtown Marysville. Plans also include a plaza for community events, public restrooms, seating, activities for all ages and improved parking and street access.
For Blue River Rail Trail Corridor Steering Committee Chairperson Maureen Crist, the announcement represents a breakthrough after years of unsuccessful attempts to move the project forward.
“Developing the 7th Street Corridor into something more than an abandoned railbed is an idea that’s been tossed around for years. Many plans have been made and even a few grants were written, but none were awarded,” Crist said.
In early 2025, Crist joined Peschel, Wayne Kruse and Sarah Kessinger to organize a new approach. They assembled a steering committee representing the city, local businesses, community organizations and trail advocates.
The committee gathered input from property owners, businesses and residents to develop a plan that would address more than the trail itself.
“One of the biggest requests was simply beautification of the area. The design team at CES did a beautiful job of pulling all those ideas together,” Crist said.
The Marysville City Council endorsed the plan in December 2025 and agreed to participate in the public-private partnership.
Frye credited the collaboration among volunteers, business owners and public officials for bringing the project to this point.
“This CDBG funding, the Transportation Alternatives grant already secured, and our highly successful local fundraising efforts have enabled this project to take the leap from bold idea on the drawing board to reality in our community,” Frye said.
Although additional work remains before construction can begin, the grant award represents one of the most significant steps in the effort to complete the corridor.
“Though the work is not over and all hurdles are not yet cleared, we can be now assured that our efforts to make a better place for all have not been in vain,” Frye said.
He concluded his remarks with a declaration about the community’s growing identity as a destination for trail users.
“Let it be recognized across the region as it has now been in Topeka: Marysville is THE trails capital of Kansas.”
A video showing the plans for the Blue River Rail Trail Corridor project is available at blueriverrailtrail.org. For more information, contact the City of Marysville at 785-562-5331 or Maureen Crist at 785-562-7342.
