In the late '60s, Casper businessman Tom Stroock was attending an oil and gas convention in San Antonio, Texas, and happened to go out to dinner at a restaurant along the city's famous River Walk, originally developed in the 19th century to control the river's flooding,

Since then San Antonio has continually improved its shoreline, slowly shaping the river area into a vibrant economic center.

"We thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if something like that could be transferred to Casper?'" Stroock said.

At the time, Casper's riverfront was used as a dumping area. Low property values accompanied the businesses and residences that bordered the North Platte River. But it didn't have to be that way.

"When we got it started, we were helped by just about everybody in the community," Stroock said.

Stroock and friends helped to start a riverfront trail system that would eventually become the Platte River Parkway.

The project has grown slowly, about a half mile at a time, said Angela Emery, executive director of the Platte River Parkway Trust. The trust celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

"Our trail is unique because it links a lot of little parks together," Emery said. "Our mission is to construct a riverfront trail that encourages proper development" such as shops and restaurants surrounded by parks and wildlife.

"When you create a place that is attractive, they will come," she said. "In the past, people didn't recognize the river as an asset. Once we started cleaning it up, people began to take notice."

Plans to expand the parkway beyond parks and trails got a boost last month when BP gave control of the former refinery pumphouse building to the trust for use as a restaurant, bike and kayak rental station and trail center.

Emery said the project will take place in stages.

"It hasn't been used for a very long time," she said. "The building currently has no water, sewer or electrical hook-ups."

She said the parkway trust is waiting to hear from the Wyoming Business Council for approval of a $277,323.75 grant to bring water and sewer services to the pumphouse building. The parkway trust will match the grant with $92,441.25, or 25 percent, Emery said.

The Platte River Parkway Trust will have its annual meeting at noon on Feb. 21 at the Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Center to discuss the pumphouse and other projects and to celebrate the trust's 25th anniversary. The luncheon is open to the public for a cost of $12. The trust asks that people R.S.V.P. at 577-1206.

Besides connecting to Casper's marathon course, the parkway also hosts several community events in the summer, including the Fall Festival in September and the Rotary Club's Duck Derby. This summer, the parkway trust will host the "Walk for the Parkway," featuring 2- and 5-mile walks along the river on June 16, followed by a party at the pumphouse building.

Emery said the trust receives the bulk of its funding from the Wyoming Department of Transportation's program for nonmotorized trail systems next to highways, from city and county optional 1-percent tax funds, and from various foundations and individuals.

"Trails are an example of how a community invests in itself," Emery said. "They speak volumes for a community. When we construct a path, it cleans up the whole area. Pathways in the community encourage people to get out and walk in a safe, cost-effective, beautiful environment."

She said the trust is also working with BP to raise the nearby pipe crossing, which runs over the river from near the pumphouse to the Three Crowns Golf Course. Plans are to put a wooden deck on it and turn it into a foot and bike bridge that will connect the two pathways. The trust is also working to extend the parkway all the way to Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park east of Casper.

"It's taken about 40 years to get the project to where it is, but it's been very worthwhile," said Stroock, who has been involved with the effort since its beginning. He said the project could never have gotten this far without the strong support of the community.

"It has been a very soul-satisfying and heart-warming experience," he said.

Reporter John Morgan can be reached at (307) 266-0614 or john.morgan@casperstartribune.net.