First community walking trail to be realized

By Becky Kuntzelman-Clark
Imperial Republican Correspondent
A much sought-after addition to the community is officially in the works. Prairie Sage Trail, a hiking and bike trail, is now in the early stages of becoming a reality.
The trail project was first discussed around the same time as the Imperial Skate Park was getting underway a few years back, but it was decided to put it on hold temporarily so as not to compete with fundraising for the skate park, said Jim Pirog of Imperial.
The undertaking is a partnership between the City of Imperial and the Prairie Sage Trail project. The location of the trail will be around the perimeter of the Chase County Community Hospital grounds per the grant of an easement from CCCH to the Prairie Sage Trail project, said Pirog.
Tyler Pribbeno, City Administrator and Community Development Director for Imperial, assisted in the writing of grants for the project and is the liaison between the two entities.
“Sometime back, there was an online community survey for access to give opinions on what people would like to see happen for improvements to the city. The most recent response from last summer was 125 surveys with the majority once again expressing an interest in a walking trail,” Pirog said.
About a year and a half ago, a committee was formed to discuss bringing this endeavor to fruition. The committee members are Jan Elliott, Elizabeth Haarberg, Erica Ellicott, Danniel Haarberg, Torri Lechtenberg, Doug Gaswick, Whitney Burke and Jim Pirog.
As of this date, a reimbursable grant has been received for $250,000 in partnership with the city, $30,000 from the Community Foundation, private donations of $29,000 and city sales money of $12,000 for a total of $321,000.
The Nebraska Game & Parks Commission administers the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) in Nebraska as part of a federal grant program that provides funding to states to develop and maintain recreational trails for a variety of activities. The program is managed at the federal level by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission for projects within Nebraska. Funding can be used to build new trails or maintain existing ones.
Pirog and Pribbeno will be in contact with Nebraska Game & Parks to receive instructions to follow and implement federal requirements, said Pirog.
“The walking trail will 2,400 feet long, 8 feet wide, 6-inch-thick concrete, with donated personalized benches along the trail. There will be waste reciprocals for trash and dog waste as well as dog waste bags provided,” he added.
Imperial Mayor Craig Loeffler is forming a Prairie Sage Trail commission board made up of six of the eight trail committee members. One of the goals of this board will be to raise additional funds and oversee trail maintenance. This board is currently awaiting city council approval.
“We will also be eventually forming a committee called ‘Friends of the Trail’ made up of volunteers to help maintain, walk the trail to pick up trash and help with any other necessary tasks.” said Pirog. “This trail will be available year-round as weather permits.”
The next phase, Pirog continued, is to get three bids from engineers, followed by three bids from construction companies prior to starting the building of the trail.
“We hope to start construction by late spring 2026 with a completion date by late fall,” he said.
“The hospital has been very supportive, and we are looking forward to working with them to complete this project,” Pirog added.
“If anyone is interested in making donations to the Prairie Sage Trail project, all donations would be wonderful,” he said.
All checks should be given to Jim Pirog or Jan Elliott. For further questions or to contact for information, call Pirog at 308-883-0656 or Elliott at 308-882-0236.
This is the beginning of a multi-phase project. Other grants will be added in the future for additional walking trails within Imperial.
“As other walking trails are being developed, we will utilize some city streets with ‘Share the Road’ emblems to mark where walkers might be,” said Pirog.