INHF: High Trestle Trail news 7-2010

This page was updated July 2010

Photo courtesy of Snyder & Associates

Cement truck pouring decking on High Trestle Trail bridge 13-stories above the Des Moines River valley, early summer 2010.

The new High Trestle Trail, in the final stages of construction, stretches for 25 miles in central Iowa and includes one of the largest trail bridges in the country. Partners working on the trail have set April 30, 2011, as the date for the trail’s grand opening.

“Discover a new view” has been selected as a theme of next April’s Grand Celebration event, which is the tagline for the High Trestle Trail logo.

“The theme reminds us to view the scenery from the trail and the towns from a new perspective — on foot or bike and away from the highway,” said Lisa Hein, program and planning director for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, one of the trail partners.

The High Trestle Trail between Ankeny and Woodward, was named to honor the original trestle bridge over the Des Moines River valley and highlight the contemporary architecture of the new bridge. Bridge, trail and artwork construction is still underway, and is expected to continue into late fall 2010. The bridge will not be open until all construction is finished: users are asked to respect construction zone signage.

This celebration will be the culmination of more than eight years of hard work by the partners involved in the trail’s development. This includes five Iowa towns — Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward — Polk, Boone, Dallas and Story County Conservation Boards, the statewide nonprofit Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. All are helping plan the April 2011 event.

“Each town along the route is planning local festivities, so we hope riders will want to ride the length of the trail and experience what each place offers,” said Liz Neumann, chair of the High Trestle Trail celebration committee.

“It’s exciting to be a part of this and to see how planning for the event — and the long-term process of developing and constructing the trail — is building connections between the communities,” she continued. “I also think it is inspiring local enthusiasm about their own towns and their future.”

The half-mile-long bridge rises 13 stories. Visitors will be able to enjoy a breathtaking view from six overlooks. The artist who designed enhancements for the bridge used the area’s coal-mining history as a source of inspiration.

Find a slideshow or photos of the bridge construction and the trail, with more links, at www.HighTrestleTrail.info.

Contributions to help develop trail amenities can be given through the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation at www.inhf.org.

For more information, e-mail Lisa Hein or Ann Robinson at INHF, or call (515) 288-1846.

Premier trail and bridge coming to central Iowa

Premier trail and bridge coming
to central Iowa