Trails and Bike Lanes

Objective - Trails and Bike Lanesbike paths icon

Having a walkable and bikeable community through the expansion of trails and bike lanes.

Note: This has been a Commission Priority since 2022.

Public Meetings to Provide Input on Bike Lanes and Extending the Greenway Trail

public meetings for June 4 and June 6The City of Paducah invites the community to provide input on adding bikes lanes and extending the greenway trail at public meetings scheduled for the first week of June. There will be two meeting options:

  • Tuesday, June 4, 5:30 p.m. at CFSB (Community Financial Services Bank), 2550 Irvin Cobb Dr.
  • Thursday, June 6, 5:30 p.m. at the Paducah Recreation Center, 1527 Martin Luther King Dr.

Mayor George Bray said, “The City of Paducah understands very well the value of our Greenway Trail and wants to capitalize on its success through technical assistance from our National Park Service experts. Our grant application placed a special emphasis on expanding bike lane and trail opportunities to our Southside neighborhoods, but we understand their value citywide and even the greater opportunity to connect with other trails in our region. In order to broaden our reach, McCracken County and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have been added as key partners. Phase one will be to determine where to connect bike lanes and the Greenway Trail within the city limits, and we need the community’s input on expanding farther. This initiative is important because of the health and wellness benefits as well as the transportation and tourism elements that trails and bike lanes bring to communities.”

At each meeting, National Park Service representatives will provide an overview of the project and then lead attendees through a series of activities to gather feedback. Each meeting will last approximately one hour.

In June 2023, the City accepted the National Park Service – River, Trails, and Conversation Assistance Program Technical Assistance Grant. Through this grant, National Park Service staff is assisting the City with the creation of a master plan to extend the Greenway Trail, gather input for an urban bike loop plan, and prepare for a future application to become a designated Kentucky Trail Town.

In addition to the public meetings, an online survey to gather feedback will be launched June 4 and will be available through June 16.

Online Survey - Active June 4-16 

Trails & Bike Lanes Priority Details

Expectations and Tactics
  • Work with the National Park Service to adopt a Greenway Trail Master Plan.
  • Use community engagement throughout the Bike Lanes and Trails planning process.
  • Explore grant opportunities for trail construction.
Accomplishments - 2022 to present

Community Feedback  Planning staff are reviewing the existing bike/pedestrian plan and developing a community engagement and strategic plan for moving forward. 

Project Organization  Establishing a project team and gathering historical information regarding the Greenway Trail and the bike plan while seeking out grant opportunities. The Planning Department has hired a Planner who will focus on this project.

Training The Planning Director attended the Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeway Commission's 2022 quarterly meeting in Calvert City.

National Park Service Grant  City received in 2023 the National Park Service – River, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program grant. This technical assistance grant will assist in the design and public input process for Greenway Trail extensions and bicycling loops. The goal would be for Paducah to ultimately apply for a Kentucky Trail Town designation.

  • The project kickoff with the granting agency was held in September 2023.
  • Two meetings were held with project partners (November 2023 and January 2024) to begin the strategic planning. The January meeting included a SWOT analysis, vision statement drafts, goal development, and short-term action items. Meetings with the project partners are continuing. 
  • Next steps will be community engagement input sessions. 

Commission Priorities

Read all Commission Priorities and Continuous Improvement Items including each action item's objective and expectations by visiting Commission Priorities.