The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard about a new organization raising money toward work on the Lincoln Prairie Bike Trail, during their Tuesday luncheon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.

Bud Altman is with the Lincoln Prairie Trails Conservancy, a recently organized non-profit organization that's helping with upkeep of the 15-mile bike trail that goes from Taylorville to Pana.

Altman's personal experience of using the bike trail to improve his health, led him to become more involved in promoting and maintaining the trail. 

He said surveys show that the trail is a safe place for people to exercise.

Altman said that although the cities of Taylorville and Pana technically own the trail, his group is working to raise money for maintenance and repair.

Altman added that the cities have applied for a grant to replace the bike trail wooden bridge just south of Taylorville, after it was discovered to be unsafe.  He said an environmental study on the bridge replacement is ongoing, and it's hopeful that the dollars will be approved to replace and rebuild the bridge.

The biggest challenge for the trail at the moment according to Altman, are the many cracks and pavement push-ups that continue to occur, adding the Conservancy group and volunteers are working to repair them.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.