The Jefferson Kiwanis Club recently finished a beautification project.

The local civic organization recently installed plants, flowers, rocks and other landscaping items at the Raccoon River Valley Trailhead in Jefferson. The total project cost was $4,700, with $2,700 from a grant through Greene County Community Foundation, and then $1,000 each from the Greene County Board of Supervisors with Louis Dreyfus funds and Greene County Conservation.

Kiwanis President Thomas Laehn believes this project improves the overall look of the start of the bike trail.

“It’s a wonderful asset for our community to be the head of the Raccoon River Valley Trail. This will now beautify that area. When people are introduced to our community, they’ve ridden their bikes up from the Des Moines metro or wherever, this is really the front steps of the town, if you’re coming up through the bike trail. Kiwanis is really proud to be involved in that project and to beautify that space.”

The completed project will be highlighted as this week’s Java and Juice program with Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community. The free weekly program will take place Friday from 9:30-10am at the Milwaukee Depot.