The Dallas County Conservation Board was the recipient Wednesday of a $100,000 Prairie Meadows Legacy Grant.
Sixteen Legacy Grants were awarded this year. The donation to the Dallas County Conservation Board will help to fund the construction of the nine-mile connector trail between Perry and Woodward, linking the Raccoon River Valley Trail to the High Trestle Trail.
“We really appreciate the awarded Legacy Grant from Prairie Meadows,” said Conservation Board Executive Director Mike Wallace. “Many times these types of grants end up leveraging additional contributions from others for our project, all of which will help us continue moving forward with the construction of such an important trail.”
The Raccoon River Valley and High Trestle trails are two of Iowa’s premier trail systems. The new connector trail will expand these networks, providing unparalleled recreation access for bikers, runners, walkers, skiers and skaters.
The first phase of this $5 million project is already underway as crews construct the initial 1.5 miles of trail starting in Perry and working eastward.
This year Prairie Meadows awarded a record $5 million to deserving charities and organizations through their Community Betterment and Legacy Grant programs. In total, 266 grants were given to organizations throughout Central Iowa. The annual Community Impact Luncheon to honor the recipients will be held Tuesday, July 24.
“As a nonprofit organization, Prairie Meadows fulfills its mission by giving back to organizations that support arts and culture, education, economic development, and human services,” said Julie Stewart, Prairie Meadows director of community relations. “We are excited to see the impact these grants will have on our central Iowa community.”
Ken Keffer is the outreach coordinator for the Dallas County Conservation Board
