October Trail Talk

DCTB SEEKS GRANT FUNDING FOR TRAIL PROJECTS

Dickinson County Trails Board submitted two grants in October through Iowa’s 2018 Federal Recreational Trails Program.  One grant was for the rail trail, Tatonka Ska Trace, from Hudson
Avenue in Spirit Lake and continuing west for another mile to 219^th Street.  In 2019, DCTB will be constructing a mile of this trail from Hy-Vee to Hudson Avenue and this year’s grant request will be a continuation from that segment.

The second grant is for maintenance funds that became available this year.  DCTB submitted a proposal for asphalt overlays totaling 2.75 miles on the Spine Trail starting from 15^th Street in Spirit Lake to 125^th Street on the east side of Big Spirit Lake in Orleans.  This is a great opportunity to maintain the trail’s surface integrity and improve the ride and we are hopeful that DCTB will be awarded the funds to complete the overlays in 2020.

TRAIL SIGNS, WAYFINDING AND WALKABILITY

DCTB has spent the summer and fall working on sign improvements and this year’s project is nearly complete.  Thank you to the surrounding communities that have helped get this work done.  We will continue to update our inventory of over 500 signs and look for additional improvements.  Furthermore, we are coordinating efforts with Imagine Iowa Great Lakes and 818 to enhance wayfinding in the region.

DCTB has also partnered with Healthy Hometown through Wellmark to visualize ways to provide a better environment to walk and bike in the Lakes Region.  A walking audit was held in July to identify key areas for improvement in Milford, Arnolds Park and Okoboji.  The Lakes Region Walkability Assessment Report was received in October and is a great starting point to define community actions that can be taken.

 

FUN FALL TRAIL EVENTS

In closing, we would like to thank the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber, Pearson Lakes Art Center, Bedell Family YMCA and the Dickinson County Nature Center for hosting the great fall events on the Iowa Great Lakes Trails. The Oktoberfest Ride and Family Glow Walk are a highlight as the summer season winds down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As always, Happy Trails to You and Yours.
Erin Reed, DCTB Executive Director