Palmer Loop Trail
The Palmer Loop Trail is a new multi-purpose concrete trail running from SE 15th St/Century Blvd to SE 29th St/Midwest Blvd. This trail is part of Midwest City's Spirit Trail network, providing a much needed connection between Joe B. Barnes Regional Park and Midwest City’s Original Mile, as well as popular amenities and destinations along SE 29th St.
Starting at its northernmost point, Palmer Loop connects to Joe B. Barnes Regional Park at SE 15th St. and Century Blvd. Visitors traveling south from that point can experience one of the most scenic features of the trail, a path that winds under a closed wooden bridge segment of the Stillwater Central Railroad line. From there, the trail continues east and south along Palmer Drive at the western boundary of the former Glenwood Addition, now a Tinker Air Force Base training property. At its southernmost point, Palmer Loop connects the Spirit Trails network to popular segments extending along SE 29th St.
Along the Palmer Drive section of the trail, a future connector location has been identified and is expected to be awarded for construction in 2022. This connector segment will directly tie Palmer Loop to N. Key Blvd., the Original Mile neighborhood and Midwest City Elementary School. With this addition, Palmer Loop will have added almost 2 additional miles of trail to the Spirit Trails network.
Planning for the Palmer Loop trail system was coordinated with Tinker Air Force Base and Oklahoma County. Initial funding for this project was provided through the 2014 Federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP-2014) and the Safe Routes to School Program. The City of Midwest City also provided funding to help complete the project. Combined bid costs for the trail and connector were $1.4 million. R.L. Shears Company, P.C. was the trail designer. Construction was completed by SAC Services and administered by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. This trail addition was identified as part of the Midwest City Community Trail Master Plan, adopted in 2009.