The Dallas County Conservation Board received a six-figure grant for their “Let’s Connect” trail project this week.

The Iowa Transportation Commission approved $1 million in funding for five recreational trail projects throughout the State. The Dallas County Conservation Board received $201,618 for their ongoing project to connect the Raccoon River Valley Trail to the High Trestle Trail. Once completed, there will be a nine-mile trail connecting Perry to Woodward. Dallas County Conservation Director Mike Wallace says this grant will kick start construction for phase four of the project in 2021, continuing the eastward movement of the trail from Perry to M Avenue. 

Wallace tells Raccoon Valley Radio this project will not only benefit those who use the trail, but also the communities it connects, “This nine-mile connection will fill a gap between two of the busiest and popular trail networks in the State of Iowa. More specifically for the City of Perry, Perry then can claim they have trailheads for both the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the High Trestle Trail, which is significant for an economic standpoint for Perry and Dallas County.”

The DCCB also received a Federal Recreational Trail Grant worth $328,175 earlier this year. The total cost of the project is between $5-6 million. Wallace says private donations will be a considerable part of the funding source and that the sooner they can lock in funding, the sooner the project will be complete. You can donate or learn more about the project by contacting Dallas County Conservation at 515-465-3577.