Map of the proposed bike trail connection; photo courtesy of Dallas County Conservation

All the current talk in the Perry bicycle scene revolves around the proposed connection of the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the High Trestle Trail.

It would effectively make Perry the epicenter for central Iowa’s bicycle community according to Chamber Director Bob Wilson. Fundraising for the connector has so far centered around the efforts of the Dallas County Conservation Board, which has raised roughly $1.5 million through grant programs and private funding. The total cost of the project is estimated at $5 million. Conservation Director Mike Wallace says the current funds will go towards the planning and engineering side of the project, such as picking the route. Wilson believes a possible route will involve intact railroad tracks just outside city limits, which would help keep the cost down.

Wilson is hopeful they can get some concrete laid soon, as a sign the project is progressing, “What we’ve seen is if you’re laying concrete, things are happening, people are paying attention. Private donations go a long way to this, because what they can do is write grants to maximize those private donations.” Wilson admits the trail connector is still relatively far from being realized, but he’s confident it will make everything in the region better. He anticipates the fundraising efforts by private organizations to ramp up considerably as the riding season nears.