eptember all lcta officers president’s messageeventually stretch from california to virginia,...

Route 30. The bridge over the tracks at the sports complex is up and the paving south is in place. The bridge is high and gives a great view of the Cedar River.

It is now possible to go on a paved trail from County Home Road south to Route 30. Soon, a commute from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids will be a reality.

The citizens of Fairfax and Amana are get-ting together to acquire a trail connection as another step in the Cedar Rapids to Amana connection along Prairie Creek. This connec-tion will be part of the Ioway Trail, which will be a link to Marshalltown and Des Moines.

Additional trail counters have been in-stalled and the circuitry modified to make the counts more accurate. We are continuing to document the many, many people who enjoy our trails.

Isn’t it exciting to see all the great things that are happening to the trails in Linn County?

President’s Message SEPTEMBER - FALL, 2004 The Quarterly Newsletter Published by the Linn County Trails Association

LCTA Officers President: Mike Wilson

Vice President: Jim Healy

Treasurer: Ed Holstrum

Secretaries: Jan and Dean Barnum

Board Members Troy Albrecht Brice AntonJensen Joel Barnum Jon Bogert Joe Clark Dick Chelikowsky Sandy Colton Nancy Craig Gary Darland Ben Dukes Keith Fletcher Roger Flint Jason Gormley Diane Handler Ed Hayek Ed Holstrom Jim Houlahan Larry Jayne Chuck Kelsey Sue Kramer Dave Maresh Ron McGraw Steve Nelson Dave Oliver Tom Peffer Amy Reasner Brad Schoenfelder Mark Trumbauer John Wauer Judy Whetstine Gail Williams Dave Wolf

Ex-Officio Jo Ann Beer Tom Neenan Don Thomas Wade Wagner

Honorary Bob Davison Ed Colton

The 2004 construction year has been an ex-citing and productive year for Linn County trails.

The Cedar Valley Nature Trail blacktop paving was completed North to County Home Road. Underpasses have been installed at both County Home Road and Midway Road. Soon the trail will be back in business, better than ever.

Hiawatha celebrated the opening of the concrete surfaced trail through town making the connection from the CVNT to the Cedar River Trail an attractive, well-landscaped addi-tion to our trail system.

The Rotary Clubs’ project around Cedar Lake is nearing completion. This is another real plus for the trail system. Cedar Lake is be-coming another asset to the quality of life in Cedar Rapids, and the trail helps make this happen.

The Cedar River Trail was extended this year south beyond Tait Cummins Park to

A trail user enjoys the beautiful prairie plantings along the Cedar River Trail.

FALL, 2004 TRAIL CONNECTIONS PAGE 2

September 10, 2004 By Keith Fletcher

Since our last report, the approaches to our flatcar bridge have now been completed by filling in the space between the concrete “wings” with gravel to form a ramp up onto the bridge. Photo #1 shows the southern approach to the bridge as it now appears.

At Springville Road, referring to the map of Segment B, the quarter mile segment west of the highway has been graded to provide a much smoother surface for trail users. Photo #2 shows the trail after grading and looking west from Springville Road. At the west end of this segment, the trail bends to the southwest, enroute to the flatcar bridge. This is a heavily wooded portion of the trail which is especially at-tractive as shown in Photo #3.

A sign has now been erected at the Oxley Road end of the trail, informing trail users unfamiliar with the trail, that the trail continues on again at Creekside Road, where an-

Grant Wood Trail Report

other sign has been added to designate the mileage to Paralta Road and Springville Road.

Referring now to the map of Segment A, extensive grading for the extension of 62nd Street across the western end of the trail is now expected to get underway this fall. The actual pav-ing of the street may not occur until early next year. Every ef-fort will be made to minimize the disruptions for trail users.

Last but certainly not least, useful discussions are still be-ing conducted with the Linn County Conservation Board staff regarding possible acquisition of the trail by the county. No formal agreement on this is anticipated in the immediate fu-ture, as there are a number of details that will have to be worked out.

In the meantime, enjoy the great fall weather out on the trail. The trail is being freshly mowed now and should be in fine shape for the colorful fall season!

COMMENTS: Although not shown on these maps, the trail will later be extended eastward from Springville Road to the Jones County line. Development has not yet started on that portion. Approximate mileages: Hwy 13 to Springville Road 6.0 mi. Hwy 13 to Hindman Road 1.6 mi. Hindman Road to Oxley Rd 1.6 mi. Oxley Rd. to Creekside Rd 0.7 mi. (Using county roads) Creekside Rd. to Paralta Rd 1.4 mi. Paralta Rd. to Springville Rd 0.7 mi. Springville Rd. to Jones Co. 4.6 mi. The main parking areas are located at Hwy 13, Oxley Road, and Creekside Road.


Grant Wood Trail Photos

Photo #1 (top left) - shows the south ap-proach to the flatcar bridge. Photo #2 - (center left) shows the newly- graded trail west of Springville Road. Photo #3 (bottom right) - Trail view on the way to the north end of the flatcar bridge. Photo #4 (top right) - Sign at Oxley Road Photo #5 (bottom left) - Sign at Creekside Road


The opening of the Cedar River Trail along Center Point Road in Hiawatha on July 23 was cause for celebration.

The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Com-merce Ambassadors, members of LCTA, and employees of City Hall all participated in a rib-bon cutting ceremony that opened the Hiawa-tha extension.

The trail linkage connects the CVNT in Hiawatha to the Cedar River Trail in Cedar Rapids, spanning the distance between Blairs Ferry Road, northward along Center Point Road, to the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.

The City of Hiawatha received $15,000 from the LCTA for building the connection, with the check being presented on July 23 at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Hiawatha Mayor Tom Patterson was quoted in the Cedar Rapids Gazette (Sat., July 24, 2004), stating that, “You watch the number of people using this trail and it is phenomenal.” Further, Angie Cole of the Hiawatha Parks and Recreation Department stated that, “It’s an as-set for any employee in the area as a safe place to walk on their lunch hour.”

The connection is one more link in the American Discovery Trail System, which will eventually stretch from California to Virginia, meaning that bicyclists will be able to travel all the way across the country.

Trail Connection Celebrated

By Amy Reasner Some people have expressed con-cern regarding trail safety following the June 29, 2004, attack on a female run-ner near McLeod Run on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. However, Sgt. Christy Hamblin, of the Cedar Rapids Police Department, states that exercis-ing safety on the trails is a relatively simple matter.

“The first rule in trail safety is to travel in numbers,” stated Hamblin. She cited a recent study which con-cluded that if you are with one other person, you reduce your chances of be-ing attacked by 70%, and reduce them further to 90% by being in a group of three or more people.

Hamblin also urges people using the trails to choose their route by determin-ing when it is most traveled. If you are

going to use the trails early in the morn-ing or late at night when there are not other people around, utilize the city streets or trails near homes and near traffic. If you want to run or walk or bike alone, leave a note for the person that you live with, so they know when and where you are exercising. If you live alone, call work and leave a mes-sage with your secretary or your co-worker, so that they know when you should arrive. The sergeant also encourages trail users to leave a headset at home when they are by themselves. She pointed out that there are new headsets available which permit you to wear them around your neck, not in your ears. She states that these are preferable to having a headset that blocks out all of the noise, not only from persons approaching, but

also from dogs and vehicles. Finally, Sgt. Hamblin urges trail users to carry cell phones with them, so that they may report any suspicious activity or if they have been injured. The Cedar Rapids Police Depart-ment has not fielded many reports of methamphetamine labs along Cedar Rapids Metro Area trails, stated Ham-blin. However, she stated that trail us-ers should never stop to pick up any bottles, coolers, or boxes along the trails. She further suggested that such containers may hold hazardous materi-als. If you spot such a container and it looks suspicious, contact the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Sgt. Hamblin states that with these few tips, trail users can enjoy Cedar Rapids Metro Area trails with few wor-ries.

Trail Safety is Simple Common Sense


TRAIL MILES* SURFACE REMARKS

CVNT (ADT) 23 Gravel/Asphalt 52 Miles in Linn County

Sac & Fox 7.1 Gravel

Cedar River Tr. (ADT) 10.2 Asphalt Cedar Rapids+Hiawatha

Lake Loop 1 Asphalt Around Cedar Lake to Cemar Trail

Bowling Street 2 Concrete

Cherokee Park 1 Gravel

Ellis Park Trail 2 Asphalt/Concrete

Marion Parks Trail 3 Gravel Follows Indian Creek

Grant Wood Trail 5 Grass/Gravel Through Eastern Linn Co.

Hoover NT (ADT) 1.3 Gravel 76th Ave SW to Wright Bros. Blvd.

Total 55.6

CRT — Seg. F (ADT) 2 Asphalt Includes up to RR Bridge

CVNT (ADT) N/A Asphalt Paving Completion 3.2 mi.

CVNT Underpass (ADT) 0 Concrete At County Home Road

New Parking Lot 0 Gravel CVNT at Co Home Road

CVNT Underpass (ADT) 0 CVNT at Midway Road

Total 2

Ellis Park Trail 2 Asphalt Part of utility project

CRT Segment G (ADT) 2 Gravel Connects CRT to HNT

Kirkwood Connection 2 Concrete CRT to the College

Ellis Park Trail 2 Asphalt Part of Utility Project

Edgewood Road 1.25 Asphalt Between O & Ellis Ave

TOTAL 7.25

by Ron McGraw - Updated from the Summer, 2004 issue of Trail Connections -

FUNDING ? CEMAR TRAIL- We are resubmitting our request for Federal funds in the

October 2004 round. The Cedar Rapids commissioners have again agreed to a 40% match, which is strong support.

? ELY CONNECTION- A joint Linn County/City of Ely grant request for Federal

funding will be submitted this Fall. Contacts are ongoing with the folks who own the old railroad right-of-way route which would be the best way to con-nect Ely with that short stretch of the Hoover Nature Trail which exists in Linn county. Linn County is to do the grant request, design, and construction supervision while Ely will control, operate, and maintain the completed trail. We still need to find a route for connecting Ely to Johnson County.

CONSTRUCTION (SEE THE GRAPHIC REGARDING CONSTRUCTION PLANS)

? CEDAR RIVER TRAIL SEGMENT F - Work is nearing completion on this sec-

tion of the trail. The bridge is up and only a short section of the trail re-mains to be paved. There will still be the shoulder work and planting of grass. With this step trail users can reach south of Ely road and can also go west to C Street SW on the paved stretch which will be part of the coming connection to Kirkwood College.

? CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL - The underpasses at County Home and Midway

Roads are in place and by the time you read this the trail should be open again. The parking lot at County Home Road is open.

? CEDAR LAKE LOOP - Construction is underway all around the lake on the

Rotary International project to place a number of shelters, benches, obser-vation facilities and information kiosks to make this area a destination for trail users.

? ELLIS PARK TRAIL - Utility and road construction has started. This is a

necessary first step in trail construction. This is a multi-year project, which will continue through at least 2006. A connection to the CEDAR RIVER TRAIL is being studied.

ROUTES

? No progress on the DRY CREEK /CEMAR /WEST BY-PASS matters. IOWA

CITY/CEDAR RAPIDS CONNECTION - The first meeting was held by the task force set up by the Linn and Johnson County Supervisors to investi-gate a trail connection between the two Metro areas. The Johnson County Council of Governments’ presented proposed routes for the rail and owner-ship issues were discussed. Although there are issues to be resolved the consensus was that a trail is feasible.

? CEDAR RIVER TRAIL SEGMENT G - This is a joint CEDAR RAPIDS/LINN

COUNTY PROJECT. Construction is planned for 2005. This is the final seg-ment of the CEDAR RIVER TRAIL which connects to the north terminus of the HOOVER TRAIL in Linn county at 76th Avenue. We would like to com-plete design work by this winter so that construction can get an early start next spring.

? NEXT- In 2005 we would like to get back to working on some loops. You

night remember that this work was diverted for Vision Iowa planning.

SUMMARY - Segment F (done) connects to segment G (2005 construction), which connects to the Hoover Trail segment (completed long ago), which leads down to the Ely Connector (planned for 2006), which will lead into the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids corridor trail (on which a task force has just started). There is a plan!

Metro Trails Status Linn County Trail Status

2004 CONSTRUCTION

CURRENTLY OPEN FOR USE-September, 2004

* Only those trails in the MATS Connectivity System. Most parks have paths and trails in addition to those listed.

(ADT) = PART OF AMERICA DISCOVERY TRAIL COAST -TO-COAST (CRT) = Cedar River Trail (CVNT) - Cedar Valley Nature Trail

2005/2006 CONSTRUCTION

MAINTENANCE ? Fixing some problems on the HOOVER NATURE TRAI. (The sec-

tion north of Ely) has been suspended pending a decision on the route of utility lines.

SAFETY-COURTESY ? A task force of the LCTA is working on a proposal to improve the

42nd street crossing. ? Signs are planned to reflect the changes brought about by the

2004 construction.

MATS Trail System Total*: 64.85


EVERY YEAR, DURING THE LAST FULL WEEK OF July, RAGBRAI brings thousands of people to Iowa from all America and beyond. No other event showcases the essence of Iowa so well: the enchantment of the rolling country-side and the down-home fun of small-town hospitality.

It is a great thing my colleagues John Karras and Donald Kaul started on a lark 31 years ago, but lately I’ve thinking it could have been so more. Iowa could have built on the success of RAGBRAI to market our state as the bicycling mecca of the nation.

Maybe we still can, and at the same time make Iowa a more enticing place to live.

Think of all the places that ac-quired a special identity because of a home-grown event that grew into something big: Louisville and Derby, Daytona and the 500, Hawaii and the Ironman, Alaska and Iditarod.

RAGBRAI did something like that for Iowa. The ride has been featured in national magazines and network television and in newspapers around the world. That’s what Iowa should be capitalizing on - trying to bring even more cyclists to Iowa, not just during one week in July but throughout the cycling season.

We’ve preached this notion a bit on the Register’s editorial page. It wouldn’t take a whole lot to make Iowa the place that comes to mind when people think about bicycling va-cations. Mostly, it would require con-struction of a lot more bike trails. The state has a reasonably good start on trails, but we shouldn’t rest until we have indisputably more and better trails than any other state. Combined with Iowa’s network of paved county roads (which make RAGBRAI possible), Iowa could at-tract families and small groups from spring through fall for cycling vac a-tions or weekends. The “destination

parks” being planned by the state could become hubs of trail networks, with visitors exploring the countryside and small towns during the day and returning to the park at night.

Cycling vacations could even be combined with golfing vacations, tak-ing advantage of the many rural golf courses all over Iowa.

Iowa doesn’t have mountains or sea-shores, but we sure have gorgeous coun-tryside and charming communities. In our quest for economic development, We shouldn’t overlook the potential of tourism, especially if we can take advan-tage of a recognized niche, such as cy-cling.

And it wouldn’t be just for tourists. I would be for us, too. The need for I more and better outdoor recreation in Iowa transcends tourism.

That is another thing we’ve been preaching on the Register’s editorial page. We’ve been arguing for years that a sorely neglected piece of the state’s economic development strategy is the enhancement of outdoor recrea-tion.

Look around the country: The re-gions with the strongest growth are those that are perceived as offering first-class outdoor recreation experi-ences. Companies are choosing to lo-cate in places where their employees want to live, and those tend to be places with clean lakes and streams and lots of opportunity for outdoor adventures.

Iowa could be such a place, with a special emphasis on cycling adven-tures.

It’s gratifying to note that eco-nomic-development agencies in recent years have come to see “quality of life” as central to attracting growth. Recent studies such as one done by researchers at Iowa State have borne out that regions with outdoor ameni-ties are more prosperous than regions without them.

Perhaps Iowa State alumni could join a crusade to create more outdoor amenities in Iowa, especially those that can best be enjoyed at 10 miles per hour in the tradition of RAGBRAI. Richard Doak (‘62 journalism, M.S. ‘64 history) is the editorial page editor for the Des Moines Register. He has ridden in

RAGBRAI six times.

VISIONS magazine

Summer 2004

Viewpoint

Beyond RAGBRAI Rolling countryside and small-town hospitality should make Iowa THE destination for cycling vacations.

Look around the country. The regions with the strongest growth are those that are perceived as offering first-class outdoor recreation experiences.

By Richard Doak


By Gail Williams

In the previous issue of Trail Connections, I re-ported on the prairie seeding project. I am glad to re-port that in its very first year, the project did meet with some success. How it Went in 2004 The seed took well in some spots, and not as well in others. The Parks Department has mowed a few times to help control weeds. They did leave two beau-tiful stands of Black-Eyed Susans. (Please see photos at right, and on the front page of this issue. Black-Eyed Susans are thriving along the Cedar River Trail). Mowing to control weeds will continue in the area as needed over the next few years. Hopefully more plants will bloom next year, but some seed may not germinate for a few years. More Areas to be Planted The Parks Department would like to seed addi-tional areas between 29th St. NE and J Avenue, as well as an area south around the Bluestem Landfill down to Tait Cummins. Steve Holland of the Iowa Living Roadway Trust Fund, Ames, IA, will visit in the next month or two to see how the seeded areas look. We are hoping to get additional funding from the LRTF for the other areas we would like to seed next spring, as selected by the Parks Department. Signage in the Works Signs will be placed at the prairie seeding project locales, educating trail users on the process. Currently, Cutting Edge Engraving Arts is testing out a new color process on our sign and leaving it out in the sun for about a month to make sure it doesn't fade right away. Hopefully in a few weeks, we will have two signs installed, marking the prairie. One will be placed near 42nd St., and the other near 29th Street, on either end of the planting areas.

Prairie Seeding Update

RENEWAL DATES on ADDRESS LABELS

Please take a look at your mailing label on this newsletter.

We are modifying the address labels to indicate when it is time to renew.

At the top of the mailing label is the date that our records show is YOUR membership renewal date.

If members will take notice of this, it will save the Association time and postage . . . always a good thing. - Mike

Check out our website: www.linncountytrails.org Webmaster: [email protected]


This Cedar Rapids Grand Metro Loop Bike Ride is the only ride I know of that incorporates trails and low traffic streets and more or less circles the metro. Since I “found” it, my wife and I ride it often, as it is so enjoyable. It has a large variety of scenery and offers a number of different riding conditions. It has two options. Option 1 includes Marion and Cedar Rapids and the Marion Parks, Sac and Fox, and Cedar River Trails. Option 2 includes all of these as well as Hiawatha and Robins and the Cedar Valley Trail. The listing is detailed so it can be used with-out a map or so you can use it to make your own map. Many approx i-mate mileages are shown (in parenthesis) for anyone wanting to plan a ride and for those who want to ride or walk a section of the loop.

There are only three potentially busy areas. The first is crossing Highway 100. It is the only busy street crossing on the ride. There are two potentially busy streets. The first is the two-block stretch of 12th Avenue from Otis Road to 4th Street; however, there is a sidewalk along 12th Avenue to use. The second is C Avenue on Option 1; however, there is a sidewalk on the east side of C Avenue that goes all the way across Dry Creek. There are two steep hills. The first is on Rosedale Road and is downhill if you come from the north. The second steep hill is on Option 1. It is up one side and down the other side of Brentwood Drive.

Option 1 is about 24.2 miles. Option 2 is about 27.3 miles.

? I chose the trailhead of the Marion Parks Trail (0 m) in Boyson Park as the starting point; however any point along the route can be picked.

? Follow the Marion Parks Trail through Boyson Park, Donnelly Park (0.8 m), and Thomas Park/Legion Park (1.3 m), to the Hanna Park parking lot (2.1 m).

? From the Hanna Park parking lot, turn right (south) and follow the sidewalk through the park access for a block and continue south on 8th Street two blocks to Grand Avenue.

? Turn left (east) onto Grand Avenue. Follow Grand Avenue to 22nd Street.

? Turn right (south) onto 22nd Street.

? Continue south on 22nd, crossing Highway 100 (3.3 m), to the junc-tion (4.0 m) of 31st and Squaw Ridge Road.

? Continue on Squaw Ridge Road. Turn right (west) onto Lakeside Road (4.3 m).

? Within a quarter mile, turn left (south) onto Rosedale Road (4.5 m).

? Continue on Rosedale Road, down a steep hill (5.5 m), and a short distance to a bridge crossing Indian Creek.

? Before crossing the bridge across Indian Creek (Rosedale Road Trail-head 5.9 m), turn left onto the Sac and Fox Trail.

? Pass under Mount Vernon Road (7.0 m).

? Follow the Sac and Fox Trail to the end of Cole Street. Trailheads are located at Bertram Road (7.3 m), Indian Creek Nature Center (7.8 m), and Cole Street (10.8 m).

? Soon after passing the Indian Creek Nature Center the trail passes under Otis Road and the Union Pacific main line. Then you see In-dian Creek empty into the Cedar River.

? Follow Cole Street north to Otis Road.

? Turn left (west) onto Otis Road and follow it to 12th Avenue (13.7 m).

? Turn left (south) and use the sidewalk along the left side of 12th Ave-nue. In about two blocks turn left onto 4th Street.

? Follow 4th Street about a block to 14th Avenue.

Cedar Rapids Grand Metro Loop Bike Ride By Dean Barnum

Shown above is the rail bridge between Donnelly and Thomas Parks.

Dean, at the top of the steep hill on Rosedale Road.

Jan & Dean Barnum at the Sac & Fox trailhead.


? Turn right (south). At the 16th Avenue Bridge, 14th becomes 16th Avenue.

? At the north end of the 16th Avenue Bridge (14.2 m) you connect with the Cedar River Trail.

? A side trip is to cross the 16th Avenue Bridge and follow the trail south to the Prairie Creek Trailhead, near Tate Cummins Park (round trip 5.2 miles).

? Turn right north of the bridge and follow the Cedar River Trail through town. Pass 1st Avenue (15.4 m), Cedar Lake Park (16.1 m), McLeod Park (17.5 m), and McCloud Place Trailhead (18.5 m) to the Werner Street Trailhead (19.6 m).

? At Werner Street there are two options. OPTION 1

? Turn right onto Werner. Cross Center Point Road. The road changes name to Dodge Road at Center Point Road.

? Follow Dodge Road to the sharp turn where it becomes Ozark Street.

? Follow Ozark to 48th Street. Turn left (east) onto 48th Street and proceed to Council Street (20.4 m).

? Cross Council and follow the paved trail through Noelridge Park to Golf Street.

? Jog left and continue east through the Harding Middle School park-ing lot.

? Continue on the trail to the left of the building. Turn left about half way around the building.

? You will come to Regal Avenue. Turn left onto Regal and then right onto Gateway Street.

? Follow Gateway to F Avenue. Cross Collins Road (21.3 m) at the light and turn left at the first road.

? Follow this road to Rockwell Drive. Turn right (north) onto Rockwell Drive.

? Follow Rockwell Drive across Blairs Ferry Road, at the light, to Sub-urban Street.

? Turn right (east) onto Suburban and proceed to Oakwood Avenue. Turn left (north) onto Oakwood and then turn right (east) onto Greenfield Street. Follow Greenfield to C Avenue (22.8 m).

? Cross C Avenue and turn left (north). Using the sidewalk proceed to Brentwood Drive.

? Follow Brentwood to Boyson Road. Turn right (east) onto Boyson

Road.

? Follow the right shoulder of Boyson Road back to the Marion Parks Trail Trailhead (24.2 m) in Boyson Park where you started.

OPTION 2

? Continue on the Cedar River Trail through Hiawatha to where the trail crosses Center Point Road (20.7 m)

? Cross Center Point Road continue to the Boyson Road Trailhead (21.4 m) of the Cedar Valley Trail.

? Follow the Cedar Valley Trail to East Main Street in Robins (23.2 m). Turn right (east) onto East Main and follow it to C Avenue (25.3 m).

? Continue on what is now called East Robins Road to Princeton Drive.

? Turn right onto Princeton and follow it to Hampshire Drive. Follow Hampshire to Kent Drive.

? Turn right onto Kent and follow it to Cambridge Drive. Turn left (east) onto Cambridge.

? Follow Cambridge to Brentwood Drive. Turn right (south) onto Brentwood.

? Follow Brentwood to Boyson Road. Cross Boyson and then turn left (east) onto the sidewalk along Boyson Road.

? Follow the right shoulder of Boyson Road back to the Marion Parks Trail Trailhead (27.3 m) in Boyson Park where you started.

Along Otis Road

CVT coming to East Main in Robins

Downtown


Text & Photos by Randy Burke, Engineer with the Linn County Conservation Department

The Cedar Valley Nature Trail in Linn County has a new look.

Beginning in late August, con-tractors began to place two pre-cast concrete culverts for use as road underpasses. The first cul-vert, a 14’ x 10’ x 120’ unit, was placed at County Home Road. The second culvert, 12’ x 10’ x 80’ was placed one mile north at Mid-way Road. Both of the underpasses help to solve major safety concerns. County Home Road is a paved, major rural thoroughfare, with large amounts of fast-moving traf-fic. Midway Road has very poor site distances.

Dirt which was removed from the County Home Road site, was used at the Midway Road site. Additional work at the County Home Road site includes a 40-car parking area. The project was undertaken in partnership with the Linn County Board of Supervisors, Linn County Engineering, and Linn County Conservation. The ma-jority of the funding for the project came from an ISTEA Enhancement Fund Grant. The Board of Supervisors provided the remainder of the funds and the matching funds. As of September 10, 2004, both culverts have been installed, and the roads over them completed. The county Home Road underpass has 500’ long ramps on each end. These ramps will receive a layer of limestone screenings as a temporary surface. Next spring, after all the dirt has settled over the winter, both ramps will be paved to match up with the existing asphalt paving. The contractor for the project was Peterson Contractors, Inc., of Rienbeck, IA. The contract amount for the project was $309,810.38.

Cedar Valley Nature Trail Improvements

-Jim Wing photo-


This newsletter is a vehicle for providing useful information to our members, including the view-points of our elected officials. Thus it naturally followed that organi z-ers of the Trail Connections quar-terly newsletter thought it would be great to run interviews with public officials who are involved in trail development. With that in mind, Lu Barron was selected as out first interviewee. Jim Wing and Diane Handler, both past presidents of LCTA and current newsletter producers, met with Lu at a local coffee shop. Our interview follows. LCTA: Hi, Lu. Thanks for meeting with us today. You've always been a great supporter of LCTA, but before we get into that, why don't you tell us a little about your background?

LB: Sure. I'm a lifelong resident of Cedar Rapids, having graduated from Washington High School. I went to college at Santa Monica College in California. After college, I went to work in the lab at ADM. After that I took a job with the Roosevelt Center for American Policy Studies. In 1989 I became Director of the Freedom Festival and did that for six years until I ran for Supervisor.

LCTA: What got you interested in running for Supervisor, and what do you enjoy about it?

LB: I've always been very interested in politics and it gives me an op-portunity to really help people.

LCTA: What do you feel are your biggest accomplishments?

LB: Several that come to mind are securing an AAA bond rating since 1998, implementation of our new rural emergency address system, and organizing town hall meetings in Linn County’s rural areas.

LCTA: What are trail accomplishments that you've played a part in?

LB: Probably getting the CVNT paved to County Home Road. I feel it

Lu Barron, Trail Supporter will help promote year-around use. I also chair a committee to develop the Hoover Trail.

LCTA: Do you personally use trails?

LB: Oh yes! I walk, run, or bike the Sac & Fox Trail at least two times a week.

LCTA: Are you familiar with the Water-loo/CF trails system? Would you support a one-cent option tax to help fund trails?

LB: Yes. I am familiar with what they've done up there. We have a long way to go to catch up. I would support a por-tion of an option tax going for trail de-velopment.

LCTA: What are your thoughts on the GWT becoming a part of the county park

system?

LB: I support this very much. I think the GWT is very beautiful. I am willing to support additional funding to help take care of maintenance, if this becomes part of our system.

LCTA: Linn County has added .2 mile of multi-use recreational trails since the CVNT opened decades ago. Does this seem like a particularly small amount to you?

LB: Yes. It seems ridiculously low. I applaud the efforts LCTA has made to promote additional development and I want to see our system grow.

LCTA: You have been quoted twice in the newspaper as being a propo-nent of developing the Hoover Trail to connect the CR and Iowa City Metro area. Please elaborate and tell us what you plan to do to facilitate this becoming a reality.

LB: I am chairing an intergovernmental committee on trails, composed of representatives from the Linn and Johnson County Supervisors, the Regional Planning Commission, ECICOG, City of Cedar Rapids, both County Conservation Boards, and the mayors of towns en route.

We are serious about making this happen and are very confident it will. We hope to see it being built within a few years.

LCTA: Thanks again, Lu, for your time and for your great support of trails in our county.

Trail Counters LCTA has been monitoring trail usage for most of the summer. The average daily usage observed over the summer was as follows:

Plots of the daily usage are now available on the LCTA web site at www.linncountytrails.org/trail_counters.html. New counters are now installed on the Cedar Lake Trail and on the Marion Trail at Boy-son Road. In the near future counters will be installed on Sac and Fox Trail at Cole Street, on CVNT at County Home Road and Center Point and on Grant Wood Trail. LCTA relies on the trail users to report the trail counter readings. Whenever you pass a trail counter, please record the Count, Time, Date and Location and email the data to [email protected]. The six sets of new counter posts were made possible with the help of Storm Steel that obtained the steel at their cost and D & A Fabrication that built the posts at no charge. The post fabrication was a significant effort by D & A Fabrication. The posts cost LCTA $629. LCTA has plans for additional counter locations for next year. Benchmark, Inc. has

donated $500 towards additional counter posts. The Cedar Rapids Parks Department is also building four additional sets of posts. The Parks Department built the three blue posts currently in use.

Sac and Fox Trail at East Post Road = 224 CRT at Sokol Park = 378

CRT at McCloud Place = 578 CVNT at Boyson Road = 378


By Ron McGraw On September 4 th, 2004, the bridge to span the gap in the Cedar River Trail was lifted to the abutments on either side of

the Union Pacific dual tracks in SW Cedar Rapids. There was once a railroad bridge here which carried the Illinois Central traffic. It was later taken over by the CRANDIC

line. This bridge would have carried the trail traffic, but that was not to happen. Instead, the Union Pacific put in place the second set of tracks over the Cedar River.

The second set was necessary because the double tracks east and west of the river were being merged into one set of tracks when they approached the river, the area being referred to as the Gauntlet. The Gauntlet caused a restriction in the amount of traffic that could be carried, causing schedule delays when two trains arrived at close to the same time.

Cedar River Trail Bridge in Place

Top Photo: One of the bridge abutments, ready to hold its load. Bottom Photo: The finished product, bridge run-ning over the double tracks. - Jim Wing photos -


To install the second set of tracks, the old bridge had to be removed and the south-supporting abutment moved to make room. The approaches had to be raised, meaning the clearance over the tracks was increased to allow for higher loads. So in-stead of simple earth abutments to work around, we now had a much larger project. Extensive masonry construction had to be employed to make the project successful.

It was interesting to watch while the bridge was nudged onto the tracks, lifted up a little while keeping it from touching the many power lines, spun around 180 degrees, and finally lifted up and gently fitted onto the abutments.

The new bridge is about 100 feet long and has a concrete deck with security fencing on both sides. The cost of this part of the trail project was about $250,000 more than first budgeted.

The vistas from the span are nice, including the big bend in the river, the Tait Cummins Park athletic fields, and the power plant. It should be a train watcher’s dream.

Thanks to the City of Cedar Rapids (Commissioners, Engineers, and Planners) for their persistence over the many years it took to bring the negotiations to fruition, and for coming up with the matching funds for the grant. Remember them as you ride over the 100 car freights on your way to your Southern destinations.

Photos, this page: Top right: Paving / Middle right: Looking north from Hwy 30 Top left: Looking south from bridge Bottom Right: Looking north from Hwy 30 Bottom left: The bridge, being hoisted into place. - Jim Wing photos -

Centennial Project Overview What is the Rotary Centennial project? 1. Beautifying Cedar Lake and surrounding area 2. Installing park benches, picnic tables, information kiosks,

and restrooms 3. Planting trees, wild flowers, and prairie grass. 4. Installing telescope pads, an observatory deck, and a Ro-

tary Plaza.

The Purpose To commemorate Rotary International’s 100th Anniversary

in 2005, Rotarians worldwide are working on projects to leave a permanent legacy in their communities.

All seven Rotary clubs in the metro area (Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion, Ely, with nearly 700 members) collectively chose the Cedar Lake project.

The Cost ? Estimated $150,000 – $200,000 (labor donated by Rotarians)

Funding sources ? $70,000 from Rotarians (700 area-wide Rotarians x $100

per member) ? $17,000 sale of commemorative bricks at Rotary Plaza ? $70,000 Hall-Perrine matching gift ? $10,000 Grants from local businesses ? $30,000 Donated Labor and Materials from Community

Partners

Estimated Time Line ? May – Sept….work sessions on Thursdays or Saturdays

Community Partners Local Businesses: ? Rinderknecht Associates ? Shive Hattery Architects Engineers ? Alliant Energy ? Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation

Construction Materials: ? Crawford Quarry Company ? Star Equipment Ltd. ? Stetson Building Products ? Rental Service Corp. and Kings Concrete/Kings Material s ? The Industrial Renovation Co. (all phases of construction) ? Watson Services, Palo (Trucking)

Sign Productions: ? Kel-Welco/White Cap

Local Labor Unions ? Alliant Energy ? Cement Masons Local 561 ? Laborers Union Local 43, AFL-CIO ? Iron Workers Union Local 89, AFL-CIO.

Local Service Groups: Boy Scouts

? Eagle Scout projects…install telescope pads

Trees Forever ? donated trees

Linn County Trails Association

Hawkeye Bike Clubs Others:

Alliant Energy

City of Cedar Rapids ? Installed permanent restrooms + water ? Completed parking lot ? Asphalted existing trail around entire Cedar Lake ? Will plant wild flowers and prairie grass ? Mow grass and trim trees ? Will help maintain Informational Kiosks, regarding bike

trails, the lake, and flowers.

For More Information, please contact: Bill Courter, Daybreak Rotary, at 790-6242 (W) or 551-7499 (Cell)

Thank you to the following trail friends for donating to LCTA in memory of my husband, Robert A. Handler:

Troy and Geri Albrecht Roberta and Bob Davison

Ron and Toni McGraw Jeff and Jane Schott

Brian and Deb Weaver Mike and Esther Wilson Jim and Barbara Wing

Bob was a great trail user and supported all the metro trail projects with enthusiasm. Frequently our vacations centered around biking and

rollerblading on trails. We could hardly wait until new miles were added locally. His desire to see more trail miles, fueled my energy as the

LCTA president for 4 years and our continued support of all the trail projects. Use trails, enjoy the scenery and conversations, and remember all

the friends and loved ones, past and present, who make this possible. - Diane Handler


Steven Allard Dick & Mary Allemang Nancy & Brice Anton-Jenson Ron & Catherine Baty Don Bender Anderson-Bogert Engineers John & Mary Campbell J. David & Alexandria Carey Lynne Carlson Allen Chapman Craig Clark Franklin & Patrica Conrad Zina Dotzler Ben Dukes Duane & Jean Earll Fred Easker Stan & Carol Eilers Barbara Engholm Dennis & Melissa Fagan James & Janet Federer Dick & Rosemary Felter Dennis & Grace Ferreter Keith & Tony Fletcher Molly Foshay Brian & Ellen Franklin Walter Fritchen Stephan & Jo Ellen Funk Dan & Debra Bell Geiser F. & Darlene Gorton Timothy Grady

Michelle Haas Timothy Roberts Hair Studio Bradley Hauge James & Pat Healy Mark & Nancy Heathman Alice Hoffmeier Robin & Jane Hursh Eugene Jahncke Paul & Anne Jenkins Glenn & Roslyn Kalous Norman & Renee Keller Arthur & Joyce Kelsey Brian Randall & Mary Keman Roger & Christine Kirpes Shirley Klug Dr. C. P. Kolln Edward Krug Jeffery Lake Frank & Marilyn Magid Steve & Denise Maze James Monagan John & Nancy Morris Bud Moscrip Randy & Jamella Moyer Ed & Barbara Mumford Ronald & Suzanne Neil Steve & Linda Nelson Cynthia Nielsen Lee & Lisa Niemi Deanna Nurre

John & Mary Nus John & Diane Rosteck Henry & Ann Royer Sandra Scaia Anthony Schubert Doug & Pat Sedlacek Stephanie Severin Jerry & Peggy Sheetz Geraldine Shepard Jon & Jean Smith Allen & Jacaui Sorensen Karie Tegeler Brian Randall & Mary Thomas Robert & Mary Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Dale Todd Mark Trumbauer David & Eileen Van Gorp John & Gretchen Van Heukelom Blairs Ferry Vision Michael & Jan Vlasak Wade Wagner Mark & Julie Walters Paul & Gail Williams David & Carol Wolf Matthew Wolf Eugene Young Jason Zabokrtsky David & Cyndia Zias

Welcome and Thanks to These New and Renewing Members, Renewing Since June, 2004


Donations $1 to $25 Barbara Engholm Mark & Nancy Heathman Paul & Anne Jenkins Jeff & Jane Schott Troy & Geri Albrecht Bob & Roberta Davison

$25 to $99 Don Bender Allen Chapman John & Nancy Herring Shirley Klug Mark & Julie Walters

Ron & Toni McGraw Jim & Barbara Wing

$100 to $199 Frieda Coonrod Bud Moscrip John & Mary Nus Brian & Debra Weaver

$200 & up Ex Club Cedar Rapids M/E Wilson GCRCF fund Pepsico Foundation Mike & Esther Wilson

The following trail supporters have donated to trail development since June, 2004

THANK YOU!

Amy Reasner Speaks About Trails to Local Group

Amy will be speaking about trails for the LCTA at the Daybreak Rotary Club on Friday, October 15, 2004 at 7 a.m.

Individual Individual Trailblazer Family Individual Trailblazer Family Trailblazer Individual Indivual Trailblazer Family Individual Trailblazer Trailblazer Family Trailblazer Family Family Family Family Individual Trailblazer Family Family Individual Family Family Trailblazer Individual

Family Individual Family Family Family Individual Family Individual Family Family Family Family Family Family Individual Trailblazer Family Individual Trailblazer Family Trailblazer Trailblazer Trailblazer Family Trailblazer Family Trailblazer Individual Individual Individual

Trailblazer Family Family Individual Individual Family Family Family Trailblazer Family Family Family Individual Family Family Individual Family Family Trailblazer Trailblazer Indivual Family Trailblazer Trailblazer Individual Individual Individual Trailblazer

Membership Benefits: ? Subscription to Trail Connections, our quarterly newsletter. ? Invitations to trail events and work days. ? Iowa Trails Council Membership and Trails Advocate Newsletter at the Trailb lazer and Partner membership level. ? Pride in creating a recreational resource for your community.

Mail donations and membership to: Linn County Trails Association

PO Box 2681 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406

Your Membership in the Linn County Trails Association is Important!

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Center Point, IA 52213-0131

Permit No. 7

Iowa Trails Council PO Box 131 Center Point, IA 52213-0131 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Inside this Issue President’s Message/Board Members/Officers

1

Grant Wood Trail Report 2-3

Trail Connection Completed / Trail Safety

4

Metro Trails Status 5

Beyond RAGBRAI-Viewpoint 6

Prairie Seeding Update 7

CR Grand Metro Loop Bike Ride 8-9

Improvements to CVNT 10

Lu Barron Interview / Trail Counters 11

CRT Bridge in Place 12-13

Centennial Project Overview 14

Memberships / Donations 14-15

YES! I want to follow the progress of trails in Linn County. Enclosed is my tax-deductible membership of:

TRAIL BLAZER (Trailblazer) ? $100 TRAIL PARTNER (Family) ? $ 35 TRAIL SCOUT (Individual) ? ???$ 20

Please consider an additional donation for ? ?NEW TRAIL DEVELOPMENT $______

Name(s):_________________________________________________________________

Address:__________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip:____________________________________ E-Mail:__________________

I would like to help with an LCTA committee (Optional—mark one or more):

? ?Grant Wood Trail

? ?Publicity and Events

? ?Fund Raising

? ?None at this time

eptember all lcta officers president’s messageeventually stretch from california to virginia,...

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