The Dallas County Conservation Board has landed another grant — this time for $328,175 — for ongoing construction of the High Trestle Trail extension to the Raccoon River Valley Trail in Dallas County.
The funds are from the Federal Recreational Trails Program, which is administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The federal dollars are designated for Phase IV construction of the connector trail, and the funds will become available in October 2020.
“This funding helps us build trail in 2021,” said Mike Wallace, executive director of the Dallas County Conservation Board. “Previous grants and donations will allow us to start Phase II construction later this summer.”
Phase II of the trail connector project begins at the western city limits of Woodward at S Avenue and moves west to R Avenue. Phase III will continue westward to Quinlan Avenue, and funding cycles and contractor bids will determine scheduling of the Phase III and Phase IV trail work.
The Dallas County grant is one of five trail projects recently approved for $1,383,485 in funding. The other funded projects are the Bluff Creek OHV Park Bridge Replacements, Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Support for Program and Bicycle Summit and the Tatonka Ska Trace Rail Trail.
Progress on the connector trail project is as fast as funding allows, Wallace said, and the Dallas County Conservation Board still needs essential private and corporate donations to make this overall $5 million project a reality. With the latest Federal Recreational Trail Grant, nearly 80% of the connector trail funding has been raised.
Private and corporate donations are used as matching dollars for the major state and federal grants. Contributions of $1,000 or more are eligible to receive recognition on trailhead signs.
The Federal Recreational Trails Program was created in 1991 for 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 and federal agencies and private organizations through an annual application-based program.
To make a contribution to the Raccoon River Valley Trail to High Trestle Trail Connector project, visit the Dallas County Conservation Board website or contact Wallace at 515-465-3577.
