Mike Scanlon is a seasoned former City Manager with a dynamic career spanning mountain resort towns, college communities, urban hubs, and rural areas from Missouri to Colorado. No matter where he’s served, Mike has always had one constant—a trail project in the works.
His trail journey began as an intern in Columbia, Missouri, where he contributed to the creation of the MKT Trail, officially dedicated in October 1985 and envisioned as a future connection to the now-renowned Katy Trail. During his time in Merriam, Kansas, Mike led the acquisition of 40 acres for the Johnson County Streamway Trail, linking Overland Park to Kansas City. In Colorado, he helped develop key pedestrian underpasses and trail connections in Basalt, tying the town into the scenic Rio Grande Trail system.
Most recently, in Osawatomie, Kansas, Mike completed the Mile Zero trailhead and the final two-mile connection to the Flint Hills Trail, giving the project its long-awaited starting point.
Today, Mike continues to champion trails through his planning and consulting firm and as the Interim Executive Director of the Kansas Association of Trail Stewards (KATS). His career reflects a deep belief in the power of trails to connect people, promote health, and transform communities.