PERRY, Iowa, May 27, 2009 – Negotiations for funding from the state’s Vision Iowa Program for an expansion of the Raccoon River Valley Trail “are back on track,” trail officials said this week in a progress report to trail supporters.

“We will be going back into a negotiations meeting in June and we hope to hear some good news,” Mike Wallace, the director of the Dallas County Conservation Board, wrote in a letter.  “This major funding source could put us over the top for the funds to complete the 33-mile new addition to the trail.  At least it would have the potential to put us in a competitive situation to raise the final funds necessary.”

The application for the funding, which would come from Vision Iowa’s Community Attraction & Tourism division, was filed in January of 2008.   One reason the processing and negotiations have dragged on for nearly 18 months is that it was undecided for a time whether the State of Iowa was going to continue the Vision Iowa program.  Funding for it has now been secured through 2013, and that’s a reason that serious consideration of the RRVT request is now being resumed.

Wallace has been the point person for the RRVT in dealing with Vision Iowa officials on this application, which seeks $2 millioion or more.  It would impact 14 communities in three counties, making this project one of the most “regional” ones the state program has considered during its decade of existence.

Here is the full letter to trail supporters on the projects that are underway on the RRVT:

Greetings Raccoon River Valley Trail users. Here is an update on the progress of the Raccoon River Valley Trail addition project.  As you recall this is the new 33-mile trail addition proposed from Herndon to Waukee.  This section creates a loop trail 72 miles long and would be the longest paved loop trail in the nation.

The railroad bridge west of Perry, that crosses the North Raccoon River, has been converted to a recreational trail bridge with work completed this past winter.  Other significant large culverts also were renovated this past winter.  The Dallas County Conservation Board (DCCB) is putting the finishing touches on the restoration of the Dawson Depot.  This depot will be used as a trailhead “welcome center” for trail users. The DCCB will bid let the construction of a part of the new trail addition in August.  This section would include paving from Dawson to Perry and to Forest Park Museum just south of Perry.  This stretch would total about seven miles of new trail.  It will depend on this autumn’s weather how soon this new segment will be open for use.  This section of the trail will be constructed based on grants and funds in hand at the time.  Other funding sources for additional construction of new segments are needed.  So, we are progressing and looking forward to a new trail!

The City of Perry has just completed paving most of its section of the RRVT addition within its city limits.  They have made a nice connection to their existing city trail system network.  They have also been working on completing the remodeling of their downtown depot, which will also be used for trail visitors.

The City of Waukee is in the process of paving their section of the RRVT addition within their city limits this summer, and that project is scheduled for completion by summer’s end.

In Guthrie County, they will be able to resurface a section from Panora to Yale this summer thanks to some Federal Stimulus funding.  This is the only section of the original RRVT that has not yet been resurfaced.

The Vision Iowa CAT  grant process is back on track.  We will be going back into a negotiations meeting in June and we hope to hear some good news.  This major funding source could put us over the top for the funds to complete the 33-mile new addition to the trail.   At least it would have the potential to put us in a competitive situation to raise the final funds necessary.

Thank you for your continued support of the Raccoon River Valley Trail.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Mike Wallace, Director, Dallas County Conservation Board at 515-465-3577 or by mail at 14581 K Ave. Perry, Iowa 50220.