Plainville Township Lake is a county lake one mile west of Plainville. Surrounded by farmland and a narrow margin of woodland, Plainville Township Lake is a beautiful location for a network of trails for walkers, hikers, cyclists and equestrians.
Phase One expansion by Prairie Frontier Trails is approximately one-and-a-half miles of reinforced natural-surface trail along the north side of Plainville Township Lake. The main trail, surfaced with limestone screenings, will be intersected by natural-surface single-track for users who prefer a more rustic path.
The linear expansion in Phase One is part of a larger plan to encircle the lake with an improved trail loop. The other phases in order are on the east, south, and west sides of the lake. The main trail is intended to be ADA compliant. Larger project goals include Plainville Township Lake becoming an equestrian destination.
Plainville Township Lake was at one time a dirt bike racing destination, and a favorite spot for off-road vehicles. However, after repeated injury claims, the governing board elected to disallow ATV use. Recreational roads around the lake had their maintenance suspended, and the county passed ordinances restricting ATV use on county property to maintained-roads only.
Lacking other facilities for off-road enjoyment, ORV use at Plainville Township Lake continued. Without maintenance programs, roads rapidly deteriorated leading to unmanaged trailblazing and erosion issues. The resulting sense of entitlement among a small group of ATV users has led to conflicts with other lake users, such as hikers and fishermen.
Prairie Frontier Trails supports the validity of ORVs for outdoor recreation, and also respects the governing board’s right to make Plainville Township Lake a quiet recreational area. PFTrails is therefore working to remedy this stalemate and prevent user conflicts by developing an ORV park nearby and separate from Plainville Township Lake.
In the short-term, the Phase One expansion will be for the exclusive use of pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians: preventing conflicts between these users and ATV users, and promoting more healthy enjoyment of outdoor activities for all.
The main trail of Phase One will consist of approximately 1.5 miles of trail, composed of 3-6 inches of gravel base 13 feet wide, with a surface of 3-6 inches of compacted limestone screenings 10 feet wide. Amenities will be a minimum of 4 benches with trash receptacles, plus 2-4 benches at proposed lake overlooks. A trailhead in the Kanza Shelterhouse area will have parking for 4 vehicles and large trailhead signage. Two low-water boardwalk bridges over each inlet channel on the north side will be engineered and constructed of synthetic lumber or cement planks (for termite resistance and low maintenance). The two endpoints of the Phase One trail, plus the trailhead, will each require a traffic constrainer, also constructed of synthetic lumber. An engineered connection with culvert will be installed where the trail connects to X Road. Finally, the Phase One expansion will be enclosed at several places by double-cable slack fencing with posts every 8-12 feet.
Donations and sponsorship toward the project are appreciated. Individual components include:
- Main trail;
- Bridge 1 approximately 70′ long, with naming available;
- Bridge 2 approximately 110′ long, with naming available;
- Three entry constrainers with possible naming opportunities;
- Trailhead;
- Fencing;
- At least eight benches/rest stops with naming opportunities available.
Gifts may be made as Friends of the Trail at the link below. Sponsorship with recognition is available for each of the project components; please contact us directly to work out the specifics.
Thank you for your interest, and we hope to see you on the trail!
