High Trestle Trail Grand Celebration - April 30, 2011

Posted Feb 26, 2011
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4/19 - High Trestle Trail Grand Celebration updates
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Can Iowa claim fame as "Trails Capital of the World"?

With more than 2000 miles of trail statewide, all the hundreds of great Iowa communities the trails pass through, we certainly can! The High Trestle Trail is one of the largest pedestrian bridges in the world: 1/2-mile long and 13 stories tall! The 25 mile trail is newest addition to the 670-mile trail system connecting Des Moines and Central Iowa and is destined to be one of the most populate trails destinations in Iowa.

The Grand Celebration - April 30, 2011

Come celebrate the Grand Opening The trail connects five communities, and each town will have will have special events, food, music, art and kids events on this special day. Most activities will take place from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (rain or shine). Ankeny • Sheldahl • Slater • Madrid • Woodward All information can be found at the link below. The communities activities will be updated regularly so check back often.

hightrestletrail.info

Each community has High Trestle Trail Shirts available with each having their own color. There will also be a Trails passport available that day with all the trail and community events listed. There will be room to have your passport stamped as you visit each community.

Volunteer Opportunities

Want to be a part of this special historic day? There are many volunteer opportunities available.

Contact Pat Spain at Polk County Conservation pat.spain@polkcountyiowa.gov or call 515-323-5280.
Contact Lisa Hein at the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), lhein@inhf.org or call 515-288-1846.
Contact Becky Roorda with the Friends of Boone County Trails & Madrid Trail Subcommittee rroorda@iowatelecom.net

Stay involved by attending the Friends of Boone County Trails Meeting each month

Spend the Weekend

Why not make a weekend of it? There are plenty of places to stay near the trail. Here are a few links to help out. Ankeny Hotels, hotels near Madrid, Reserve a camping spot or find a Bed & Breakfast close by.

About the High Trestle Trail

The centerpiece of the trail is a rebuilt railroad trestle across the Des Moines River. The new trail bridge stands 13 stories off the ground and runs one half mile offering scenic views of the valley.

TRAIL MAP

The trail will also connect two 100-mile trail loops planned for the Central Iowa Trail Network,ith links to the Heart of Iowa Trail, Neal Smith Trail & 4-Mile Creek Greenway Trail. The project began with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation along with Polk, Dallas, Boone and Story Counties. The $15 million project used grants and private donations, along with federal earmark appropriations, to build the trail and the bridge. The Union Pacific Railroad donated the land where the trestle is located valued at over $3 million.

(this image will appear on the back of the celebration day shirts) This celebration is brought to you by the cities of Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward; Polk, Boone, Dallas and Story County Conservation Boards; and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.