Jamestown wins $250,000 grant to extend White Cloud Trail

Jamestown Parks and Recreation District received a $250,000 award to extend White Cloud Trail and close the gap between McElroy Park and Liechty Park, a link that was among 17 Recreational Trails Program applications asking for $3.48 million from about $1 million in available funding. Because the state program is an 80/20 matching grant and caps awards at $250,000, Jamestown’s grant implies a total project budget of about $312,500.

The project will build a gravel recreational trail between the two parks, using compacted gravel to match the existing system. The new segment will create a continuous off-street corridor for walking, running, bicycling and other non-motorized use, while also improving public safety, expanding access to parks and green spaces and serving users of all ages and abilities. The award also includes a brush mower for future vegetation maintenance.

North Dakota Tourism lists White Cloud as a 9.5-mile trail that begins at Veteran’s Memorial Bridge in McElroy Park, follows the James River, runs behind the bison herd pasture and circles the North Dakota State Hospital grounds. Jamestown Parks and Recreation’s trail map lists White Cloud Nature Trail at 10.7 miles from the same trailhead.

The master plan prepared by Confluence for the Jamestown Parks and Recreation District says McElroy Park covers 63.13 acres and Liechty Park 17.1 acres, but the two spaces remain poorly connected because of existing road layouts. It also says walkers, cyclists and vehicles often share the same routes, creating conflicts and safety concerns. Community input for the plan came through stakeholder interviews, the Downtown Arts Market, Buffalo Days, Park-a-Palooza and online surveys.