“Let’s Finish the Trail” was the rallying cry made before a large group of attendees Thursday night at the Marshalltown Arts and Civic Center.
The goal: finish The Iowa River’s Edge Trail, a 34-mile multi-purpose recreational trail for bicyclists, birdwatchers, canoers, hunters, hikers and more from Eldora to Marshalltown.
A total of $2.7 million in pledges are needed by the June 17 deadline, said Jeff Schneider of Marshalltown, president of TRAILS Inc. and Bruce Johnson, vice-president, also of Marshalltown. Both were effusive in their enthusiasm that the goal was attainable.
The $2.7 million is needed to match a proposed federally-funded Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) grant. The city of Marshalltown is the lead applicant, and the project is endorsed by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), Hardin County Trails Commission (HCTC) TRAILS Inc. and more.