Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation: Raccoon River Valley Trail News

Trail partners campaign to secure Vision Iowa grant for new loop

This article was written and released July 2009.

Update!
Partners meet fundraising goals
for trail!

RRVT trail partners have met ambitious fundraising goals to match a $1.6 million Vision Iowa grant and "Build the Loop" from Herndon to Waukee! Recent grants from the Iowa Department of Transportation State Recreational Trails Program and a REAP grant awarded by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources completed the campaign, along with help from many individual and corporate donors.

For the detals on RRVT's fundraising, read the Oct. 14, 2009, news release from the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association.

Raccoon River Valley Trail seeks matching funds

Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) supporters are seeking funds to “Build the Loop,” and add 33 miles to complete this popular multi-use recreation trail in central Iowa.

The addition would bring the RRVT to 89 miles, and create a larger 72-mile loop trail through Dallas, Greene and Guthrie counties that would be one of the longest paved loop trails in the nation (see RRVT map of trail and planned expansion).

The trail partners have been awarded a $1.6 million Vision Iowa award to help complete the expansion of the RRVT. However, the grant is contingent upon the RRVT group raising $850,000 by December 7, 2009.

The total project cost of constructing the trail addition from Herndon to Waukee, is anticipated to be over $6,6 million. Mike Wallace, Director of the Dallas County Conservation Board, said that, thanks to a wide range of partners and enthusiastic supporters, more than $5.8 million has already been raised or committed.

“This grant and other grants, donations, and agency budgetary commitments have brought this project to a point in which we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” says Wallace. “The $850,000 left to raise may sound like a lot, but we know it’s a fraction of what we’ve already achieved. It's important to remember this represents significant economic stimulus for our area, which will pay off over many years.”

This is the 20th anniversary of the RRVT, which initially stretched 34 miles from Waukee to Yale. Today the scenic trail has grown to 56 miles. It extends to Jefferson as it winds along the river and through forests, prairie, farmland and the communities of Ortonville, Adel, Redfield, Linden, Panora, Yale, Herndon and Cooper. The RRVT also connects to the Clive Greenbelt Trail and the metro Des Moines trail network.

The trail addition project has been progressing over several years. Railroad right-of-way has been purchased for the trail extension, with the support of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The Dallas County Conservation Board has completed renovation of a major railroad bridge across the North Raccoon River, west of Perry, which has been converted to a trail bridge. Other progress on the trail addition includes paving of the trail sections in the towns of Waukee and Perry. More work is planned as the RRVT partners make progress toward the goal of creating a nationally significant destination trail

The existing RRVT has already been designated as part of the American Discovery Trail which goes from cost to coast, as a “Millennium Trail” and also as a National Recreation Trail.

Those who would like to help “Build the Loop” and take advantage of this opportunity to obtain Vision Iowa funding are encouraged to follow instructions in the box above. If preferred, residents in Guthrie County may contact Joe Hanner, Guthrie County Conservation Board Director, at 641-755-3061, while Greene County residents can contact Dan Towers, Greene County Conservation Board Director, at 515-386-5674.

More information about the trail can be found at the Raccoon River Valley Trail website or view the RRVT page at INHF’s Iowa by Trail website.

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