March 19, 2024

Supervisors approve pending funds for trail project

During a special session on Wednesday, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved a measure that could lead to the development of a comprehensive county-wide trail system, and possibly a regional trail as well.

The board approved $2,000 to go toward a joint grant application with Marion County to receive funds from the U.S. National Park Service to develop a master bike trail system that would connect the two counties. Jasper County would only have to pay the amount if the county received funds from USNPS.

“It’s beneficial to Jasper County and Marion County, both, because when you write grants, if you don’t have something to tie into you are not going to be awarded,” said board member Dennis Carpenter. “The benefit is being awarded grants to be able to maintain and do things on trails that you normally wouldn’t get.”

Iowa Heartland RC&D, a program dedicated to promoting recreation in the region, is facilitating the grant on the counties behalf, in hopes of developing a master trail for central Iowa that would connect Jasper, Marion, Polk, Poweshiek and Marshall counties.

“The reason to do this — I mean if we are going to do a trail plan on our own, I don’t know what it would cost but I’m going to guess $20,000 to $50,000 ... to actually put something like this together,” said Jasper County Conservation Director Keri Van Zante.

Jasper County currently maintains the Chichaqua Valley Recreation Trail that begins in Baxter, the Rock Creek Recreation Bike Trail and is working with the City of Prairie City on developing a third trail.

If the grant is later approved by USNPS, the county would aim to connect all of its trails with other regional trails including the City of Newton’s bike trail.

Senior staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 6532, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.