JEFFERSON, IOWA, May 3, 2010 – Raccoon River Valley Trail users and other visitors are now being invited to “Pedal, Paddle & Play in Greene County” in a new promotion for this summer by Greene County Chamber & Davelopment, which is headquartered here.

Ken Paxton, the new Chamber and economic development director, took quick notice of the RRVT’s starting point in Jefferson when he arrived in the community.  He then sought out local  river enthusiasts to explain the potential of canoeing and kayaking on the nearby North Raccoon River.  He found out that the Abundant Life Ministries church community had vans available.  He convinced the board of the Greene County Development Corporation to purchase 20 new canoes with trailers.  And then he and his staff began planning the “Pedal, Paddle & Play” initiative, which they launched with advertisements in special sections of area newspapers in late April.

Several canoe access points had already been developed on the North Raccoon by the Greene County Conservation staff, and a couple of new ones are under consideration.  In addition, the North Raccoon is now also designated and signed as an official state “water trail.”

Individuals, couples, small groups and groups as large as 40 can now call the Chamber & Development office at 515-386-2155 or make contact by e-mail at chamber@jeffersoniowa.com, for information and reservations.  The canoe service is planned for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays — from Memorial Day until Labor Day.

If you are arriving in Jefferson by bicycle, arrangements are being made so that you will be able to secure your bike near the Jefferson Depot at the RRVT trailhead.  You can also park vehicles in trailhead parking areas.  At the Depot, you’ll be met by a canoe shuttle service, which will take you and the canoes to river access points west and north of Jefferson.  The canoe adventure will then be with the river current to the south and east, with take-out planned at Henderson Scout Park, which is located on the river south of Jefferson, just east of Iowa Highway 4.  The shuttle service will then take canoeists back to the Depot.

Also being planned in the trailhead area is a new trailside campground, with showers and restrooms available.  And a new shelterhouse is being planned for that same location.  Those are not yet available and may not be during the 2010 season, but planning is underway.

“Greene County offers the only combination of biking, canoeing and camping in the region,” the Chanmber & Development group’s ad says. “The new Jefferson Trailhead Campground will be the first campground open on the Raccoon River Valley Trail.  After you set up your tent or pedal into town, you can rent canoes and be taken by vans for canoe trips on the North Raccoon River.  When you are done biking and canoeing, pedal or walk into town for dining at our wide range of restaurants, or to visit our many attractions, including the Mahanay Bell Tower, the Gallup House and RVP 1875, an historic furniture factory and sho selling furniture constructed by using only the tools available in 1875.”

The 31st annual Bell Tower Festival will be held in Jefferson the weekend of June 11-13, and on that weekend the Des Moines Cycle Club is sponsoring the second annual “Ride the Raccoon.”  That is a fully-supported bicycle tour, open to the public, that uses the full length of the RRVT, with cyclists riding from Waukee to Jefferson on Saturday, camping overnight at Jefferson-Scranton High School, and riding back on Sunday.  You can find additional information and do online registration for that ride by clicking here.

In three other trail-related developments in Jefferson and Greene County:

– Greene County Chamber & Dedvelopment has agreed to take over the sponsorship and operation of the annual “Trails & Trills” bike ride, which will be held for the sixth time in 2010.  Local and regional musicians are scattered along the eight miles of the RRVT between Jefferson and Cooper.  Cyclists ride from one musical group to the next, stopping for mini-concerts.  There is lunch in Cooper.  That ride has traditionally been held on the first Saturday in June, but was delayed to September in 2009 because of bad weather in June.  This year, Trails & Trills is being planned for Saturday, August 14.

– A new bicycle club, the “Cyclists Of Greene,” has formed in Jefferson with public rides on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings.  You can find more information and make contact with the group on the Facebook page “Cyclists Of Greene,” or by contacting Jefferson Mayor Craig Berry, one of the founding members.

– The bike club is sponsoring a bicycling safety rodeo for local children on Saturday, May 15, and a fully-supported ride around Greene County for the public on Saturday, July 17, the weekend before the start of Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI).  The Greene County ride, which will start and finish in the middle of the county fair, will have routes of varying lengths with the longer routes intended for those who want a final good training ride before RAGBRAI.