The Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce is getting closer to reaching their funding goal for the Kinnick to Raccoon trail improvement project, and they will begin some initial work soon.

Chamber Director Deb Bengtson says their most recent fundraiser for the $125,000 project was the Sweet Corn 5K fun run, for which they had over 500 participants. Following that event, their total raised rose to around $90,000, and Bengtson says they are waiting to hear back on three different grant requests that will get them even closer. Given how near they are to reaching their goal, the Chamber is planning to get started on the landscaping aspect of the project some time in September. Additionally, Bengtson says there are plans in the works to hold a ceremonial groundbreaking on September 9th.

The Kinnick to Raccoon project has four aspects, including: lighting the old railroad bridge over the Raccoon River; landscaping the four blocks between the river and the trailhead at Nile Kinnick Drive; participating in the “Shadow of the Rails” art project already in place in Waukee, Perry, and other locations; and lighting the bridge approach on the eastern side of the river.