A 3.3-mile, 10-foot-wide concrete trail that connects to Summerset Trail at the Carlisle Family Aquatic Center is open.
The south loop and nature trail has been a dozen years in the making.
City officials were able to gather nearly $2.8 million in grants, leaving the city paying for only about $200,000 — or 7 percent — of the total project cost.
At a ribbon cutting last week, one local boy said the new trail gives him a safe path to get from his home to the middle school.
“We know the people of Carlisle will enjoy this trail,” said Chance Yates. “I’m looking forward to being able to ride my bike safely to school.”
His mother, Jen, said the trail is stunningly beautiful.
It goes down to and crosses the North River, and will eventually connect Carlisle’s trails to Des Moines.
Lisa Hein, a representative from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, said her group has been involved in 65 percent of the Rails to Trails initiatives in Iowa, including the Summerset Trail and the Great Western Trail.
Read more...