Fundraising progress for Dallas County Conservation’s “Let’s Connect” project has been steady the last couple years, but recently it took a leap forward.
Thanks to some large donations in quick succession at the end of the year, the connector trail is now 80% funded. First, there was a $20,000 contribution from Raccoon Valley Bank, which is the final installment in the $100,000 total the bank promised to the project. Conservation Outreach Coordinator Ken Keffer says a large grant from the Department of Transportation has been recommended for funding, though he says that money isn’t in hand just yet. Finally, they recently received an anonymous $25,000 donation.
Keffer says the recent uptick in donations is good news, as they further close the gap on the $5 million price tag for the trail. “Money’s coming in, people really believe in this cause, and are excited to see some forward progress. We’re at the point in fundraising where now these dollars go directly into the trail construction, you know. So we’re actually going to get out there in 2020 and start moving west of Woodward with some trail construction. So we’re actually getting to see the results of all of this fundraising hit the ground!”
The connector trail will bridge the nine mile gap between the Raccoon River Valley Trail in Perry and the High Trestle Trail in Woodward, linking two of the most popular bike trails in central Iowa. The first mile and a half of the trail has already been paved east from Perry. To donate to the “Let’s Connect” project, click the link below.