Linked by the Missouri River, Boyd and Knox counties in Nebraska and Bon Homme, Charles Mix and Gregory counties in South Dakota share geography and history. Exchange between native tribes, the fur trade, and riverboat traffic facilitated commercial interchange and cultural interaction. Both states maintain significant investment in recreation areas that offer residents and tourists quality outdoor experiences. The Standing Bear Bridge testifies how cooperative efforts between Nebraska and South Dakota can yield mutually beneficial results. Common ground exists for collaboration.
‘Friends of the Tabor to Platte Rail to Trail’ intends to establish a core trail on ‘railbanked’ sections of the NAPA-Platte rail line. Recommended roadway routes will link this core trail to nearby communities, to South Dakota State Park areas at Lewis and Clark Lake and Lake Francis Case, to the Missouri National Recreational River 39-segment between Fort Randall Dam and Running Water, and via the Standing Bear Bridge to Niobrara State Park including a loop through Knox, Boyd and Gregory counties to historic Fort Randall. This trail adds another recreation option to underserved parts of both states and helps diversify local economies. Our idea is scalable and implies a multi-year development horizon.
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