BOUTON, Iowa — A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the grand opening of the nine-mile connector trail linking the High Trestle and Raccoon River Valley trails here Saturday.
The 1 p.m. event followed an 11 a.m. inaugural ride from Perry to Woodward and then back to Bouton for the ribbon cutting, opening the continuous 120-mile paved loop, which promises to be an economic engine for the northern Dallas County communities.
Brief speeches were delivered by people who made the connector trail a reality, beginning with former Dallas County Conservation Director Mike Wallace and Snyder and Associates Engineer Rich Volker, who together invested more than 10 years into the project.
Steady support over the years also came from the Dallas County Conservation Board, represented Saturday by Board Chair Rebecca Hillmer and members Nancy DeLong and Keith Troester. Dallas County Supervisor Mark Hanson of Waukee, another longtime supported of the connector trail, also briefly spoke.
Other speakers included perennial trail supporter and Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, who represented the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, which was also joined by the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, Rails to Trails Conservancy and many other groups, bike clubs and individuals at the ceremony.
A free lunch was provided by the Raccoon Valley Bank. Bouton Parks and Recreation Director Caroline Kinkennon was also on hand to welcome visitors to the town.
