Dallas County Conservation recently received another large chunk of funding for the “Let’s Connect” project to bring the Raccoon River Valley Trail and High Trestle Trail together.
The Iowa Transportation Commission recently approved $392,610 to Dallas County through the State Recreational Trails program, which will be used for phase three of the connector trail. This is the second grant of this type that the project has received, with $322,208 previously awarded by the Federal Recreational Trail Program and earmarked for phase two. With all the new donations, the $5 million project is now nearly 75% funded and Conservation is getting everything ready for the next batch of construction.
Phase one was completed last summer and includes a 1.5-mile stretch heading east from Perry. Phase two, which will begin next summer, includes 1.5 miles running west from Woodward. The remaining six miles to bridge the gap between the two popular central Iowa trails will be tackled in phase three, tentatively expected to begin in 2021. Conservation Director Mike Wallace emphasizes that they still need private and corporate donations to fully fund the project, and anyone interested in donating can do so by stopping in or calling Forest Park Museum at 515-465-3577, or by clicking the link below to visit the official website.
“Let’s Connect” was one of four projects around Iowa to receive a grant through the State Recreational Trails Program, with the total amount allocated equalling $1.5 million.