Forest Lake Area Trail System

02/19/2026

We can’t wait to see you on March 17th for our St. Pat’s Run/Walk! ☘️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Get ready to lace up your lucky running shoes, throw on your best green gear, and join us for a shamrockin’ good time! Whether you’re racing for a personal best or strolling with friends, it’s going to be a festive, fun-filled celebration. 🌈✨

Want to get a head start on the fun? Take a peek at the course map below and start planning your route to the finish line!

Don’t miss out on the fun — sign up today and let’s make it a St. Paddy’s Day to remember! ☘️
👉 https://runsignup.com/Race/MO/Kirksville/FLATSStPatrickSKMileRace

01/14/2026

Today's Kirksville Daily Express features Elsie Gaber, who played a key role in launching the Forest Lake Area Trail System, and her husband Ron. We're incredibly fortunate to count both as part of our community. Without them we wouldn't have FLATS and so much else that makes Kirksville a great place to live.

If you stand in the center of the Gaber Solar Clock Garden on the campus of Truman State University, the shadow cast by the central gnomon will tell you the time of day. If you look at the length of that shadow, it will tell you the time of year. But if you look at the names attached to that garden....

07/08/2025

🎉 Race Results Are In! 🇺🇸
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out for the Uncle Sam 5K & 2K Walk/Run and helped make this event a success! We loved seeing the energy, the red-white-and-blue spirit, and all the smiling faces. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️✨
Whether you crushed your personal best or just came to soak in the fun, we’re so glad you joined us as part of the Kirksville Red, White & Blue Festival weekend! ❤️💙
📊 Race results are now live! Check them out here: https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/184793/
Until next time, keep moving and keep celebrating community! 🇺🇸💪

09/29/2024

Who wouldn’t love our trailhead at sunset?

Lots of folks taking a break at the pavilion, walking up to the labyrinth, watching fish from the bridge, and of course getting out on the FLATS trail to finish up their Saturday.

09/27/2024

The moment we’ve been waiting for is nearly here. Join us at the FLATS-Theta Psi Trailhead ribbon cutting and grand opening at the corner of North Osteopathy and West Missouri Street Thursday, October 3 at 5:30 pm!

Thanks to so many around the community we've been able to complete the Rotary Nature Playscape, build a parking lot, install a beautiful pavilion, add parking, and complete a 40' footbridge connecting to the .7 miles section of the FLATS trail along Missouri Street!

07/06/2024

Results for the 8th Annual Uncle Sam 5k race and 1.2 mile walk/run to benefit FLATS

The Flats 5K and 1.2 mile 2024 is on Saturday July 6, 2024. It includes the following events: Flats 5k 2024 and Flats 1.2 mile 2024.

05/06/2024

Registration is now open for the 8th Annual FLATS Uncle Sam 5k Run and 1.2 Mile Walk.

Celebrate the 4th and help raise funds so FLATS can keep pushing forward!

https://www.active.com/kirksville-mo/running/distance-running-races/flats-uncle-sam-5k-and-1-2-mile-race-2024

05/06/2024

And just like that we have upgraded--and simply stunning--lighting at the FLATS-Theta Psi Trailhead thanks to a $2,500 District 6040 Matching Grant plus a $2,500 donation from the Kirksville Rotary Club!

These funds allowed FLATS to secure an additional $5,000 from our Missouri Department of Conservation Grant for lighting and electric, bringing the total donation to $10,000.

Additional thanks to Compass Electric for installing all this, to Ameren for donating the light poles, and to all the wonderful folks who've supported FLATS over the years!

04/25/2024

We're rounding the corner on the FLATS-Theta Psi Trailhead.

Thanks to the incredible efforts of Stanton Concrete all the paths, the footing for the trailhead sign (which is super cool), and the parking lot are complete and Peckosh Landscaping is there now to make it all look great before officially opening.

And thanks to all who've moved this along tirelessly, particularly Kirksville Rotary and the Missouri Dept. of Conservation!

03/01/2024

You'll have to wait until after the weekend to see all 255 feet of new paths connecting different parts of the FLATS-Theta Psi Trailhead, but here's a sneak preview of the first fifteen or so feet.

02/29/2024

It's Leap Day and the concrete trucks have arrived at the FLATS-Theta Psi Trailhead!