Trail on trial: To York leaders, it’s a dream. To neighbors, it’s something else

YORK, Neb. (AP) — It seemed, at first, like such a smooth ride.

Two years ago, the federal government awarded the city of York $15.6 million to do a thing many smaller Nebraska communities fundraise for and dream of – add a walking and biking trail through town.

It’s the kind of project, including 9 miles of trails, a pedestrian bridge over busy Highway 81 and other walking improvements, that would normally take decades for the city, population 8,174, to complete. It’s the largest federal grant of its kind York has ever received, says Mayor Barry Redfern.

But this ride has hit a serious speed bump. What once seemed to the mayor and others as a no-brainer project has spawned serious controversy, complete with accusations, counter-accusations and legal ultimatums.

Nearly 200 yard signs stuck in lawns around town declare “Protect Don’t Connect.” Opponents, many of them residents along the proposed route, cite fears of crime from nearby Interstate 80, anger over the use of eminent domain and the feeling that city leaders have ignored their concerns.

Opponents point to emails between city officials scripting responses during public meetings as proof that there’s a lack of transparency. Supporters, including city leaders, say opponents are acting in bad faith.

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