GARNETT — The city of Garnett has received a special state transportation enhancement grant to buy “wayfinding” signs leading to the downtown area. The Kansas Department of Transportation said the city will have to come up with a 20 percent match to the grant, which totals slightly more than $300,000, including the city’s share. The city has been seeking to put up new wayfinding signs as part of its new “Small, Serene, Simply Garnett” image campaign, said city manager Joyce Martin. The campaign and the sign proposal were among the result of a regional tourism study conducted through the Kansas State Extension’s First Impressions program. That study said the lack of signs made it difficult for visitors to find important places in Garnett, Martin said. The grant was one of 35 grants announced by KDOT Tuesday afternoon. Ottawa, which had sought grant money to expand its bike and hiking trails, including one along the top of the river levee, didn’t win any of the grants. Ottawa city officials say they’ll apply again during the next cycle. Lawrence received grants for restoration of the Breezedale Gateway Monuments and the Santa Fe depot; and to extend the Burroughs Creek Trail between K-10 and 29th Street; Iola received a grant to build a bicycle and hiking path that will provide a community link to the Prairie Spirit Trail; and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism won a grant for continued development of the Flint Hills Nature Trail, which goes through Ottawa.
Wednesday, June 12, 4 p.m.
