Central Iowa trails gain 24 miles

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This article first appeared in INHF's Winter 2006 magazine.

by Lisa Hein & Cathy Engstrom

Central Iowa’s Trail Network got a major boost in November 2005 when the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation purchased a 24-mile discontinued rail corridor that connects Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward.

INHF’s recent 24-mile trail acquisition (pink line) expands the Central Iowa Trail Network. The completed network will include two major loops, each topping 100 miles. See a larger view of the map.

INHF plays a critical role in this multi-county, multi-million dollar effort. We negotiated more than three years with Union Pacific Railroad to acquire this corridor on behalf of the segment’s five communities and four county conservation boards. We’ve also helped our partners apply for state and federal grants—recently securing significant pledges for trail construction over the next five years.

But there’s a long path ahead before this latest acquisition is fully developed. The Iowa Department of Transportation has allocated funds to grade the existing rock ballast for non-motorized use. Meanwhile, partners are making plans to hard-surface it and to add trailheads, signage and other amenities. Estimated time to completion is five years, but some segments could be done sooner.

On the financial side, partners are awaiting engineering estimates but expect the final project costs to top $8 million. INHF will take a leadership role in private fundraising.

Meanwhile, we continue to negotiate with Union Pacific Railroad on future additions.

Lisa Hein/INHF

The new addition includes a dramatic half-mile bridge with 120-foot piers that cross the Des Moines in Boone County. Project partners are seeking a bridge design "worthy of the scenery it crosses."

 

Lisa Hein is INHF’s Program & Planning Director. Cathy Engstrom is INHF’s Communications Director.

For more information about other trial projects, past, present and future see the sidebar.

Or visit the Central Iowa Trails home page for complete project information and ways you can help.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.