REDFIELD, Iowa, December 11, 2007 – The Raccoon River Valley Trail’s specially designed new signage is now all in place along the trail in Dallas County.

That includes large trailhead signs in each of Dallas County’s four major trail towns — Waukee, Adel, Redfield and Linden. In addition, smaller signs right beside the trail now welcome trail users to each of the four communities, plus to unincorporated Ortonville. And those signs give the mileage to the next three stops in each direction. One of the latter signs is shown in the photo here, taken at the Redfield Depot.

The signs are all done in a style that was drawn from old railroad signage, and the mileage signs are on poles that have red and green reflectors on the top that resemble the warning signals that were on many railroad signs.

The same kinds of signs are ready to go up now along the trail in Greene County, as soon as the weather allows installation.

The new signage in Guthrie County can hopefully be placed during the 2008 season, depending on the success of fundraising by the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association, by the RRVT Committee that is part of Panora’s economic development group and by the Guthrie County Conservation Board.

Trail users, businesses, civic organizations and others can help complete the signage system by taking part in a new “Buy an RRVT Sign” program.  A $500 contribution to the RRVT Association will purchase one of the smaller signs that includes the welcome to a community along with the mileage to the next stops.  On the steel pedestal that is the base of the sign, a brass plaque will recognize the donor. The contribution is tax deductible, since the RRVT Association is a 501.C3 non-profit corporation registered with the Internal Revenue Service. Contributions can be directed to:

RRVT Association
402 Main Street, Suite No. 1
Cooper, Iowa 50059

Or donors can call the association at 515-386-5488 or e-mail info@raccoonrivervalleytrail.org.

Donations of any amount are encouraged. Contributions have ranged from a few dollars up to $11,550 from the Jefferson Telephone Company Trust to pay for all the signs along the trail in Greene County.

The RRVT signage system was designed by Iowa State University senior-level students in a graphic design class in the spring semester of 2005. The students worked with the committee that started the RRVT Association, including the conservation directors from the three counties.

Article Published: 12-11-2007