Katy Trail State Park would not be possible without the support of Ted and Pat Jones, who provided a generous donation to acquire the corridor and develop the initial trail. On April 28, 1990, more than 1,000 people joined Ted and Pat Jones at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Rocheport to officially open the first segment of Katy Trail State Park. Over the next six years, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources constructed the trail in eastern and western segments along the 185-mile corridor between St. Charles and Sedalia. On Sept. 29, 1996, Pat Jones symbolically connected these eastern and western segments of trail at a ceremony in Jefferson City to create the longest rail-trail in the nation. An additional 37-mile section of trail from Sedalia to Clinton was completed Aug. 26, 1999, to extend the trail to 225 miles.
Edward Jones has continued the legacy of Ted and Pat Jones in supporting Katy Trail State Park. The company has provided funding for the Katy Trail State Park full-color marketing brochure and other Katy Trail events such as providing t-shirts for the 1996 connection ceremony. Edward Jones is an official sponsor of the 20th anniversary of Katy Trail State Park.
