For more information, contact:
John Wauer
Board Member
Linn County Trails Association
[email protected]

August 22, 2011

Linn County Trails Association Presents $96,250 to Linn County Conservation Board

 

Linn County, Iowa – Today, Linn County Trails Association presented the Linn County Conservation Board a donation of $96,250 to complete the funding necessary to pave the Cedar Valley Nature Trail from County Home Road to Lafayette. 

 

In 2009, Linn County was awarded funding from Iowa Department of Transportation Enhancement fund to pave the Cedar Valley Nature Trail from County Home Road to Lafayette.  The project involves the reconstruction and surfac­ing of approximately 3.5 miles. Work will include re-establishment of drain­age, clearing and grubbing, grading, placement of rock base material, surfacing, seeding with native grasses and wildflowers, and planting of trees and shrubs. In 2010, Linn County Conservation Board received notification of another financial award to continue to the project to Schultz Road, another 2.5 miles of paving. The total cost of the project is approximately $2 million.

 

The Conservation Board approached Linn County Trails Association (LCTA) about a public/private partnership to fundraise the remaining $96,000 to complete the project.  LCTA accepted the proposal because of the wide-spread benefits for trails users.  For example, with a paved surface: the trail can be used as an additional four months of the year; there is increased accessibility for all wheeled activities, including wheelchairs, strollers, and rollerblades; and less maintenance costs for Linn County.  Data from LCTA shows that trail usage increases when trails are paved. 

 

LCTA President John Wauer, who presented the check, explained that building trails takes many partners and is not an easy task.  “It is the role of Linn County Trails Association to be a catalyst for the development and growth of a system of connected, multi-use trails through Linn County and Eastern Iowa.  However, the development of trails takes partnerships.  The partnership between Linn County, LCTA and all the financial contributors is why the announcement today is so exciting.”   Donations for project have come from 227 foundations, companies and individuals. This is a demonstration of the wide and strong support for trails in Linn County. 

 

Bidding for the project is expected to begin in November, with construction starting in 2012. The estimated completion for the project is fall of 2012, depending on weather.

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