30th Anniversary ReviewA trail through time (part 1 of 2)This article first appeared in INHF's Summer 2009 magazine.
by Danny Akright Twenty years ago, the Wabash Railroad’s line sat derelict. Rotting wooden ties supported rusting rails. Weeds twisted through the tracks. It looked like the end of the line. But some in southwest Iowa saw a new beginning: a rails-to-trails conversion that would become the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. Today, the Wabash Trace is one of Iowa’s most popular trails – and a resounding rails-to-trails success story. The 63-mile trail connects three states, from the municipal trails in Council Bluffs and Omaha to the Iowa-Missouri border at Blanchard. The crushed-limestone surface also connects four counties and eight communities, linking Iowans to the Loess Hills and each other. In 1988, though, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail was just a dream. An arduous journey would lead, a decade later, to the trail’s grand opening. The first step was gathering support. A dream come true Volunteers rallied support along the rail line, hosting public meetings in community centers, school gymnasiums and even fire stations. They coalesced into a truly grassroots organization, Southwest Iowa Nature Trails, Inc. (SWINT), which draws members primarily from the towns on the rail line. “It was obvious from day one that the volunteers were extremely enthusiastic and dedicated,” said Mark Ackelson, president of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. “Had it not been for that group of volunteers, that project never would have happened.” SWINT President Bill Danforth said Ackelson and INHF were integral to SWINT’s ability to create the trail, calling Ackelson his “sage and guru.” “Without the volunteers, the Wabash Trace wouldn’t have been possible,” Danforth said. “But without INHF, it also wouldn’t have been possible.” INHF’s experience and professional staff secured ownership of the rail corridor, as well as an Iowa Department of Transportation grant for nearly $1 million – the trail’s first significant funding. “We built sections near the towns first, so that people could experience a trail and what it could be,” said INHF Program and Planning Director Lisa Hein. As the trail grew, so did interest and donations. Ten years and 73 bridges after volunteers started their work, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail celebrated its grand opening in 1998. More...
For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846. More Articles in 2009 Summer Magazine © Copyright
2010
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