Raccoon River Valley Trail

A project on the Raccoon River Valley Bike Trail in Greene County was completed in 2020 from a grant of $35,000 that was  awarded in 2017.

County Conservation Director Dan Towers says three entrances to specific locations on the trail in the county are a part of the “In the Shadows of the Rails” and is finished. The  Jefferson, Winkelman’s Switch and Cooper, each have two ten-foot tall concrete columns on each side of the trail, wrapped in ceramic tiles and connected with the location’s name at the top.

“It’s kind of a long, drawn-out project, and we’re glad to be done with that. But they’re kind of nice. They kind of set the Raccoon River Valley Trail off, those other communities that have that. When you see those art installations, you kind of recognize that as being the Raccoon River Valley Trail.”

The project is part of a $1.1 million overhaul of the trail that ties the railroad heritage as being used as a recreational trail. Those communities that are part of the project each have a similar column look. Funding for Greene County’s portion came from Iowa Great Place, matching funds from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation, and the Federal Highway and Transportation Alternatives grant.

Project Complete

Winkelman Switch trail art