Friday is the deadline to vote the Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) into the Hall of Fame of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Voters may vote as many times as they like through Aug. 6.
The RRVT was one of three rail-trails in the U.S. nominated for the honor this year — the others are in New Hampshire and Delaware — .Hall of Fame selection is done through a public vote which takes place July 30
“Winning the vote would not only bring the RRVT national attention but also bring trail enthusiasts as tourists to central Iowa,” said Mike Wallace, executive director of the Dallas County Conservation Board and RRVT Association board member. .”
At 89 miles, the RRVT is the longest paved loop in the nation, connecting 14 communities in Dallas, Guthrie, and Greene counties, including Perry, which boasts a duel trailhead for the RRVT and the internationally renowned High Trestle Trail (HTT).
The Raccoon River Valley Trail opened in 1989 and has grown into a tourist engine and a vital asset for health and wellness. If the city of Perry hopes to operate the Hotel Pattee in the black, it will need to fill it in large part with bicycle tourists to the RRVT and HTT loops.
Vote early and vote often for the RRVT at the Hall of Fame of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
