The Iowa Transportation Commission approved $1,309,100 for five State Recreational Trails Program projects. The State Recreational Trails Program was created in 1988 with the purpose of developing and maintaining recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized trail users. This funding is available to cities, counties, state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations through an annual application-based program.
The legislature had appropriated $1 million to the State Recreational Trails Program through the Rebuild Iowa’s Infrastructure Fund (RIIF). The remaining $309,100 was awarded as leftover funds from projects not completed or built under budget.
The State Recreational Trails Fund is a popular funding source for trails projects in Iowa. The total amount requested in this cycle of the State Recreational Trails Program was $11.5 million – almost nine times the amount available to be awarded. The program requires at least a 25% match from other sources of funding. The combined projects in the award will build approximately $4 million in trail infrastructure.
The projects and approved funding amounts are listed below.
- Cedar Valley Nature Trail Wolf Creek Bridge Replacement (Black Hawk County Conservation Board) $360,000
- Connecting Fort Madison! Phase 3-Community Hospital Connector (Fort Madison) $91,100
- Davis County Regional Trail Construction-Phase 3 (Davis County and Davis County Trails Council) $230,000
- Heart of Iowa Nature Trail-Slater to Huxley Hard Surfacing and Trail Improvements (Story County Conservation Board) $300,000
- Lake Belva Deer Area Trail-Phase 3 (Keokuk County and Keokuk County Highway Department) $328,000
For more information on the State Recreational Trail Program, contact Yvonne Diller at 515-239-1252 or yvonne.diller@iowadot.us
DESCRIPTION OF AWARDED PROJECTS
1. Project Name: Cedar Valley Nature Trail Wolf Creek Bridge Replacement
Sponsor: Black Hawk County Conservation Board
Description: This application provides for the demolition and replacement of the bridge that carries the Cedar Valley Nature Trail over Wolf Creek in La Porte City. The project will replace the existing 281-foot-long former railroad bridge which was constructed using 16 wooden timber trestle approach spans. The bridge will not only serve to reconnect the Cedar Valley Nature Trail but will also serve to reduce the amount of structure impeding water flow of Wolf Creek.
Total Cost: $850,000
Requested Amount: $360,000 (42%)
2. Project Name: Connecting Fort Madison! Phase 3-Community Hospital Connector
Sponsor: City of Fort Madison
Description: This project will be the third in a multi-phase trail project organized by the city of Fort Madison and the local trails group, Promoting Outdoor Recreational Trails
(PORT) of Fort Madison. The trail will extend westward from 48th Street to connect with Fort Madison Community Hospital, as well as an existing trail loop around a small pond beside
the hospital.
Total Cost: $531,840
Requested Amount: $144,157 (27%)
Awarded Amount: $91,100 (17%)
3. Project Name: Davis County Regional Trail Construction-Phase 3
Sponsor: Davis County
Co-Sponsor: Davis County Trails Council
Description: Davis County Trails Council is developing the final 0.6-mile segment of the county’s first multi-use trail. This segment will connect the city of Bloomfield with the Davis County McGowen Recreation and Wildlife area, a 313-acre outdoor facility with 3.5 miles of trails, fishing ponds, native prairie, campgrounds, and a community garden. The completed Davis County Trail will be anchored by the Mutchler Community Center on one end and Davis County’s premier county park, McGowen Recreation and Wildlife Area, on the other.
Total Cost: $461,000
Requested Amount: $230,000 (50%)
4. Project Name: Heart of Iowa Nature Trail-Slater to Huxley Hard Surfacing
and Trail Improvements
Sponsor: Story County Conservation Board
Description: This project includes improvements and hard surfacing of 2.5 miles of existing limestone trail between the cities of Slater and Huxley between 510th Avenue (R38) and 535th Avenue on the Heart of lowa Nature Trail in Story County.
Total Cost: $939,000
Requested Amount: $300,000 (32%)
5. Project Name: Lake Belva Deer Area Trail-Phase 3
Sponsor: Keokuk County
Co-Sponsor: Keokuk County Highway Department
Description: Construction of concrete surfacing for the Lake Belva Deer Trail in Keokuk County. The project is a 2.65-mile long trail connecting Sigourney to Lake Belva Deer Park.
Total Cost: $1,188,000
Requested Amount: $ 328,000 (28%)
