The trail runs 13 miles on either side of Highway 13 through 12 Missouri counties. It's expected to provide important habitats for butterflies and other pollinators, as well as benefit nearby communities.

A new trail is in the works — but it's not for use by humans. It's for butterflies.

The idea for the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail was first proposed by the Hamilton Community Alliance in the small northern Missouri city that was once home to businessman James Cash Penney, founder of the J.C. Penney department store.

"They were inspired by a butterfly park up in Bellevue, Iowa, and wanted to do something similar in Missouri that could help both pollinators and support rural communities," said Kyla Pehr, the volunteer communicator for the trail project.

The effort stalled during the pan

See Full Page