(Joplin, MO) – The Joplin Trails Coalition (JTC) has released their Summer 2026 newsletter. Read more below to find out what they’ve been doing with the Joplin trails system!
Volunteers Deliver Storm Recovery Efforts
The recent wind storms blew multiple trees down on the Frisco and Ruby Jack Trails. The Joplin Trail Coalition would like to thank the great group of volunteers who removed the fallen trees within days of the storm. Clubs and individuals got to work without being asked. Sometimes, the Coalition would post about a fallen tree on their Facebook volunteer page and a volunteer would say that they could get it.
Thank you to all the volunteers who stepped up to clear our trails!
Completed Projects
Frisco Trail Resurfacing
The Frisco Trail is over 30 years old and the gravel gets thin in spots. JTC volunteers came together to resurface over half a mile of the Frisco Trail from St. Louis Avenue to the Turkey Creek Bridge and a quarter mile of the trail just north of Zora Avenue. The project cost $5,000.
New Kiosk on the Ruby Jack Trail
JTC volunteers built a new kiosk at the Carthage Trailhead at the Ruby Jack Trail.
The Kiosk has an information section and an area to post information, as well as a bike repair station and a bench. Part of the project was funded by a $4,000 grant from the Carthage Community Foundation and was designed by JTC vice president Pat White.
The total cost for the project was $6,000.
Member Spotlight — Paul Teverow
Thirty-six years ago, Paul and a group of friends from Missouri Southern State University formed Joplin Trail Coalition with two goals in mind: to be able to safety commute to work and to make Joplin more bicycle-friendly.
A short time later, the Jasper County Commissioners were approached by Burlington Northern and they said they wanted to rail bank the abandoned Frisco Line. Burlington Northern then asked commissioners if they would be interested in developing this inactive line into a recreational trail. The county commissioners turned to JTC for help in developing the trail and Frisco Trail was born.
“We had no experience or knowledge on how to build a trail, but we felt it was too good of an opportunity to pass up,” says Teverow.
With help from Rails to Trails Conservancy and by learning from experience, the Frisco Trail was opened in 1991. At first, the trail didn’t see many users, but as word spread throughout the community, trail usage steadily increased. Today, the Frisco Trail is one of the most popular destinations in Joplin.
“Cliff Walker took it upon himself to learn all about recreational trails and he did a lot of planning and actual work. Lynn Olmstead handled the graphics and publicity of what we were wanting to do,” says Teverow.
Thirty-six years later, Paul is still an active member of the Frisco Trail community. He serves on the board as the secretary and attends many of the volunteer work days. When asked why he has stayed connected for so long, he said: “I enjoy riding my bike on the trail versus riding on the road and I know many people whose health has improved by regularly exercising on the trail. This was my way of making a contribution to the community.”
Member Spotlight — Robert Blackford
Robert Blackford started riding his bike on the Ruby Jack Trail to strengthen his bad knees.
“I couldn’t walk across the room without falling. I messed my knees up by all the roofing I was doing,” said Blackford.
A friend suggested he ride a bike to strengthen his knees. Fortunately, the first section of the Ruby Jack Trail had just opened. He would access the trail at the Leggett & Platt trail head and ride to Carthage and back.
“I could only do four miles at first,” he said.
As different sections of the Ruby Jack opened, Blackford would add more miles to his routine. Today, he rides an average of 150 miles a week. When asked why he uses the Ruby Jack Trail, Blackford said, “I can bike anywhere and feel safe. There are no cars to contend with and I also enjoy being out in nature. Ruby Jack allows me to do that.”
Robert gives back to the trail by being a paying member of the Joplin Trails Coalition and by weed trimming along all the intersections where Ruby Jack crosses a road.
Thank You to the Maple Leaf Bicycle Tour Sponsors
JTC would like to thank this year’s sponsors of the Maple Leaf Bicycle Tour for making this annual community event possible. Thank you to:
- Frank Fletcher Subaru
- Bicycle Specialists
- GLS Insurance
- Christine Yunek – YES Real Estate Group
- Noland’s Auto Trim
- Dreyer & Tinney – Personal Injury Attorneys
- Specialty Foods Distribution
- Mid-Missouri Bank
- Arvest Bank
- Joplin Floor Designs
- Freeman Health System
- Schuber Mitchell Homes
- Blue Buffalo
- Wells Fargo Advisors
- La Boussole Medical Spa and Wellness Center
- Go Sports Therapy
- Hess Brothers Bicycles
- Don Gould Agency, Inc.
- Fair Acres Family YMCA
- Scott’s Landscaping
- Gilster – Mary Lee
- Dogwood Trailblazers
- Southwest Missouri Bank
- Bike Walk Joplin
- McCune-Brooks Health Care Foundation, Inc.
- Anchor Stone Company
- Galbraiths, Inc. Flooring
- Missouri Foundation for Health
Upcoming Events
- August 8 – 10th Annual Eliminator Run
- October 3 – Glow the Distance 5K/10K
- October 10 – Maple Leaf Bicycle Tour
- October 25 – 43rd Annual Pumpkin Run
- November 21 – Hit the Road Jack 2026 Runfest
About the Joplin Trail’s Coalition:
The Joplin Trails Coalition (JTC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and maintaining multi-use trails in Joplin, Webb City, Carthage, Oronogo, and Carl Junction Missouri.
Reference:
Joplin Trails Coalition
P.O. Box 2102
Joplin, MO 64803
joplintrailscoalition@gmail.com
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