RRVT News
KCCI-TV in Des Moines tells the story of the Raccoon River Valley Trail in the first segment of reporter Jason Parkin’s “Happy Trails” series, and you can see it on video here
When Jason Parkin, a bicycling enthusiast who is also a meteorologist on KCCI-TV NewsChannel 8 in Des Moines, decided he wanted to do a series of special reports on central Iowa’s recreational trails in the summer of 2007, he headed to the Raccoon River Valley Trail for the story that led off the series.
His report aired in late July, and the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association has received permission from KCCI-TV to feature the video story on this Internet site.
Parkin, 37, has been on the Des Moines station’s weather team since 1998. A 37-year-old native of LeMars in northwest Iowa, he did his undergraduate studies in communications at the University of Iowa, then from 1992-’95 was on the staff of his hometown radio stations KLEM/KKMA. He then enrolled at Iowa State University for his meteorology studies, working at WOI Public Radio, KASI/KCCQ radio in Ames and then briefly at WHO radio and TV in Des Moines.
“I’ve been cycling regularly since ’88,” he said. “It was the easiest way to get around campus. I’d say I now ride a trail once or twice a week,” and it’s generally the Raccoon River Valley Trail, which he can ride directly to from his home in the Des Moines metro area.
The videographer working with him on the RRVT story was Andy Ireland.
After he opened the “Happy Trails” series of reports with the RRVT story, later installments featured the Great Western, Chichauqua and Neal Smith trails. “I might do some water trails and some cross-country skiing, and who knows what else?” he said.
His story will be featured here in the RRVT News during the month of October, and will then be permanently archived and accessible at a special link on this site.
High-speed users: Click here to view the KCCI-TV video.
Lower-speed users: Click here to view the KCCI-TV video.
Article Published: 09-29-2007
