BRR riders catch up with Let’s Connect, plan for RRVTA banquet

Saturday’s BRR Bike Ride to Rippey drew thousands of people to Perry, and many got the chance to catch up with the latest developments in the Perry-to-Woodward connector trail project and other happenings on the Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT).

Staffing the RRVT and Let’s Connect information table at the Hotel Pattee were Dallas County Conservation Board Director Mike Wallace and Natural Resource Manager Curt Cable, who were ably assisted by Let’s Connect committee volunteers Jill Brosnahan and Larry Meacham.

In addition to selling RRVT annual trail permits, the number one point of conversation and questions revolved around the proposed Raccoon River Valley Trail to High Trestle Trail connector project, Wallace said.

“My staff and I have submitted three important grants over the last two months,” Wallace said, “and we had a very good return on the end-of-the-year donation-envelope fundraiser. We are moving ahead in a positive direction but at a slow rate. We all wish the connector project was completed.”

The Raccoon River Valley Trail Association will hold its annual fundraising banquet Saturday, Feb. 18 at the West Des Moines Marriott Hotel on Jordan Creek Parkway. The social hour starts at 4:45 p.m. with free beer and a cash bar. Dinner follows at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m.

This year’s menu will include Local Farmland sliced herb and garlic-roasted pork loin, mustarda de fruiti, asiago Dauphinoise, Italian chop salad, broccolini, Tuscan rolls and butter, Starbucks coffee, iced tea and lemonade. A dessert called the Chocolate Overload will follow.

Tickets for the event are $50. A table for eight can be reserved for $500.