Raccoon River Valley Trail users may notice some new improvements around Guthrie County.

The Prairie Woodland Conservation Foundation has completed its work on a sheltered rest area on the trail, located about 1.5 miles southeast of Panora. The shelter includes two picnic tables and a bike rack for users to stop and rest during their travels to Panora or Linden. In 2016, the Guthrie County Conservation Board moved a portion of the trail in this area to safeguard against further damage due to drainage, leaving a section of the land suitable for the project. The shelter was funded in part by a 2019 capital grant from the Guthrie County Community Foundation along with matching dollars from the Prairie Woodland Conservation Foundation and the Conservation Board.

The Conservation Board also recently finished its project of installing four bike repair stations at all of their trailheads in the County. The Prairie Woodland Conservation Foundation is a five-person board appointed by the Conservation Board, whose purpose is to request and accept gifts for the development and enhancement of environmental, educational, and conservation projects in partnership with the Conservation Board.