Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation: Iowa trails win federal funding

This article first appeared in INHF's Winter 2006 magazine.

Erika Nortemann/INHF

Recently approved federal transportation legislation, which provides funding for all modes of transportation, includes significant funding for Iowa trail projects.

Over $37 million has been earmarked towards specific trail planning and construction, including several segments of the proposed Mississippi River Trail, the upgrade of the Neal Smith Trail, the construction of the Des Moines River Bridge near Woodward (pictured on page 14), the Linn County extension of the Hoover Nature Trail, Johnson County Trails, the Wapsi-Great Western Line in Mitchell County and planning for the Lewis and Clark Trail in western Iowa.

These federal appropriations require a 20 percent match from state, local and private sources, which makes the REAP program and the State Recreational Trails Fund even more crucial over the next several years.

Though much work remains, it’s exciting to see this level of support and vision directed to statewide projects that benefit people of all ages and capabilities.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.