The Perry branch of the trail-wide “In the Shadow of the Rails” project on the Raccoon River Valley Trail isn’t quite complete, but visitors can still get a good idea of what the public art project will look like once it’s done.

Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson says work on the project is around 80% completed, with only a few finishing touches left. There are two locations for the art in Perry, which was designed by RDG Planning and Design to harken back to the trail’s railroad roots. One spot is the trailhead at Caboose Park, while the other is where the trail enters Perry from the south, just after the crossing of Highway 141. Peterson says both pieces are just waiting on signs that say “Perry,” and the trailhead piece also needs the lighting installed. He adds, nothing is set in stone at the moment, but the City will likely host an unveiling of the art once it’s finished.

“In the Shadow of the Rails” was spearheaded by the City of Waukee, with a goal to put a similar-themed piece of art in each city along the Raccoon River Valley Trail. The City Council approved the design for Perry’s artwork, and funding came from private donations, grants from the Dallas County and Bock Family Foundations, and local option sales tax funds. Peterson offers his thanks to everyone who has contributed to the project.