2023 RRVTA Banquet
The Annual Raccoon River Valley Trail Association Banquet and Auction was held on February 18th at Country Lane Lodge in Adel. Jason Sydejko from KCCI-TV served as the emcee for the event, and Brandi Horton of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was the featured speaker. We welcomed more than 200 attendees and raised $15,000 for continued trail improvements and promotion!
We want to thank the following banquet table sponsors:
Bike World
Dallas County Hospital
IP Pathways
Lake Panorama National
Team Checker
Kyle’s Bikes
Thank you to everyone who attended and donated—we look forward to seeing you in the Loop soon!
2023 RRVT Trail Passes Now on Sale
With warmer weather on the horizon (let’s hope), we want to make sure you’re staying in the Loop! Now is a great time to purchase your 2023 Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) pass—it’s easy to do and a wonderful way to support improvements on the trail. For just $25, you’ll become a "Friend of the Trail", which buys your RRVT trail pass ($10), and $15 goes to RRVT Association to support promotional and economic development efforts. Every “Friend of the Trail” purchase helps keep the trail maintained and an exciting destination for Iowans and tourists alike!
“Let’s Connect Trail Project” Update
Two of Iowa’s most popular and iconic trails, the RRVT and the High Trestle Trail (HTT) will be connected in 2024. The 9-mile connection between the RRVT in Perry and the HTT in Woodward will pass through the town of Bouton and will include a mix of former railroad corridor, rural road right-of-way and newly acquired land. The new portion between Perry to Bouton is expected to be complete this year, and the section between Bouton and Woodward is slated for completion in 2024.
Once connected, the 89-mile RRVT and the 25-mile HTT will become a 120-mile continuous loop of trail with multiple options for giant loop routes connecting into the greater Des Moines trail system.
RRVT Trail Improvements in 2023
A major renovation of the RRVT is scheduled for 2023. The trail between Redfield and Linden will be closed most of the summer as crews complete major bridge construction and resurface the entire six-mile stretch. Rather than an asphalt overlay, the trail will now be concrete, providing a smoother and longer-lasting surface. It is anticipated that in 2024, the trail from Waukee to Adel will also be resurfaced with concrete.
Please look for repair-work updates on our website and on the trail itself.
RRVTA Leadership and Board of Director Updates
The RRVTA board of directors has elected Pat Steele of Adel as the new chair, effective March 2023. Pat has served on the board since 2020 and succeeds Sandy Lowe of Panora. During Sandy’s tenure, the RRVT experienced increased recreational use, many improvements and became the 35th trail in the nation to achieve Hall of Fame status through the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. She will continue to serve on the board for the remainder of 2023.
Keith Troester of Adel and Jake Wendler of Johnston were re-elected as treasurer and recorder respectively. Five new members have recently been added to the board: Deb McDermott of Panora, Brocke Palmer of West Des Moines, Greg France of Waukee, Dan Severidt of Adel, Bob King of Dallas Center, and Chad Van Bell of Waukee.
The board of directors has the goal of including representation from each of the communities along the trail. We are actively looking to add members of the board from: Minburn, Dawson, Jamaica, Herndon, Cooper, Jefferson, Yale, Linden, and Redfield. If interested, please contact Pat Steele via email for more information.
