Trail Connections
The Quarterly
Newsletter Published by the Linn County Trails Association
Presidents Message Spring
2001
By Jim Wing, LCTA President
I want to thank each of you who have joined or renewed their membership or contributed towards trail development. I realize that most of you only want to support us financially, and
that is great. However, there are some of you who have expressed interest in doing more.
We are going to try and provide you with some opportunities to get out and actually work on the Grant Wood Trail if this is of interest to you. We will have several work days this year. Notification of work day details will be via e-mail and our website [ http://www.linncountytrails.org/ ].
The accompanying story tells of our plans to utilize an email network. The newsletter is too infrequent, phoning too cumbersome, and mailing too costly and time-consuming.
We are also going to try and have a few more fun activities for you to participate in if you choose. There will be a walk on the newest open section of the Grant Wood Trail on May 19th. This will only be advertised through the newsletter and details can be found on page 11 of this issue. We also will sponsor a Freedom Festival event on the Cedar River Trail. Lastly, we may hold some sort of night walk on the Sac and Fox Trail this fall. With the Coltons returning from Texas soon, other ideas may also surface.
By trying to improve the newsletter, and by providing the above-mentioned activities, we are trying to give you a little more for your generous financial support. We are working hard to develop a trail system, and your backing is critical. Come on out and meet some other trail supporters and have some fun.
By Troy Albrecht
Quick quiz: How many of you reading this article have tried inline skating? Never mind that it is the fastest-growing sport in the country. Don’t worry about the fact that it burns more calories than cycling, and almost as many as jogging, with less than half the impact shock to the joints. Can’t afford it? Hah! Considering a decent pair of blades can be found for about the same price as a pair of running shoes, I’ll bet you can! Maybe you should stop thinking about it and give it a shot. Want another reason? The city of Cedar Rapids has made paved trails a priority within its park system. We now have almost 7 miles of bladeable trails running through the center of town. While I would agree that this is not enough for a community of our size, it is at least a step in the right direction, and the city has plans for even more miles in the near future.
Inline skating started in 1979 in Minneapolis by two hockey-playing brothers who wanted another way to train. As they skated down roads, other hockey players, and even skiers, took note and the sport quickly took off. There was only one problem. As most of you have probably noticed, trends usually begin on either coast and slowly make their way towards the Midwest. So in 1984, the brothers were bought out and inline skating was marketed nationwide. Specifically, one example of marketing was placing blades in
rental shops along Venice Beach, California, where people-watching is a sport all unto itself. Today, inline skating is the fastest-growing sport in America, with participation increasing almost 900% during the 90’s. This number, and the need for paved trails, should only continue to increase, as the average age is 18.
Some other demographics to consider, include:
· Over 25% of all households own inline skates.
· The average person skates 29 days per year.
· 50% of skaters plan to skate more in the upcoming year.
· The highest percentage of ownership is in the “under 18” category and most skates are given as gifts.
· Locally, the Cedar Rapids ice arena is removing one sheet of ice this summer for an inline hockey league. This should only increase participation in this community.
Like
runners and cyclists, most skaters need goals.
With the recent surge of popularity and our inherent need to compete, it
was only a matter of time before organized races began to sprout up. Personally, my wife and I have participated
in the last two Northshore Inline Marathons in Duluth, MN, which is the largest
inline event in North America. Last
year, over 3500 skaters competed, and this year’s organizers anticipate
increasing the cap to nearly 4000, as they are now the only North American leg
on the World Cup tour. However, if you
want to participate in the largest inline skating marathon in the world, you’ll
need your passport—it’s in Berlin. Also,
the year 2001 marks the inaugural Big Granite Marathon in Ashland,
Wisconsin. Other long distance events
will be held in New York City, Montreal, and on a course running from Niagara
Falls to Buffalo. But for the person
who thinks 26 miles isn’t enough, save October 7, 2001, on your calendar. This is the date for the Athens-to-Atlanta
race. This one-day course consists of 89 miles of rolling Georgia
countryside. While I will be
participating in the Duluth and Ashland races this year, I’ll let someone else
tell me about the Athens-to-Atlanta jaunt.
Anyone interested in the Midwest events can check out northshoreinline.com
and biggranite.com
Now for a little lobbying. . . . You might ask, where does someone train for an inline marathon in this area? Unfortunately, while I did mention that the mileage available in Cedar Rapids is increasing, it is still very low compared to communities of similar size. With the increase in number of skaters locally, the downtown trail has become very crowded, forcing local skaters to surrounding counties and beyond. Many of us feel that the best solution to this issue would be to pave the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. It’s been done by our neighbors to the north in Black Hawk County. As a matter of fact, Black Hawk County has over 60 miles of paved trails. Whether it’s for recreation, weight loss, off-season hockey training, or marathon training, participation in this sport is only going to increase, increasing our need to pave more trails to meet this growing demand.
By Keith Fletcher
March 26, 2001
With the arrival of spring, we will now be able to pick up where we left off late last fall. However, the Hwy 13 to Oxley Road segment that we opened in 1999, will need cleanup after the long hard winter. Also, the gates that were vandalized late in the season will need to be repaired or replaced this spring.
For the purpose of simplifying discussion of the different portions of the GWT, the portion already open is considered to be Phase I. The portion from Oxley Road to Springville Road is designated as Phase II, and the portion from Springville Road to the Linn-Jones county line will be designated as Phase III.
The main emphasis this year will be on Phase II. This is the portion shown as segments B through G on the map (below), which is repeated from the last issue of the newsletter. Segment G on this map is actually an easement across the north side of the right-of-way and varies in width from 16’ to 40’.
This easement is scheduled to be surveyed in the very near future. The surveying will be followed by clearing off trees and other debris as necessary and then installing a fence along the entire south side of the easement supplementing the existing fence on the north side. When this is accomplished, we will then be ready to clear the upper end of segment F all the way southwest to the missing bridge.
Overall, there is a considerable amount of clearing activity planned for this year. Starting at Paralta Road, there is some minor clearing needed on segment F northward to the missing bridge. Then working south from Paralta Road, we will now be able to clear our newly purchased segment E property as well as the northern part of segment D.
You may recall that we had a very productive trail clearing session last October. We cleared out approximately the lower two-thirds of segment D. The volunteers who accomplished this included LCTA general members, LCTA board members, as well as some non-members with an interest in trails. The names of these volunteers were unintentionally omitted from the last issue of the newsletter but are listed here in recognition of the fine job that they did:
Barbara & Roger Flint, Marilyn & Gordon Gott, Dick Chelikowsky, Nancy Wickersham, Gary Darland, Ed Colton, Dean Barnum, Dave Oliver, Martin Nash, John Wauer, Bill Ronnenberg, Milo Popp, and Larry Jayne.
We hope to accomplish much of our trail clearing early in the season this year, with the additional goal of drawing on volunteers from our entire LCTA membership. When accomplished, a trail walk is planned to give as many of our members as possible an opportunity to become familiar with this very scenic Phase II Portion of the GWT.
What are we going to do about the missing bridge? If we had a new bridge in place and the trail clearing completed, we could then walk all the way from Creekside Road to Springville Road. We are working on the bridge problem to see if we can find an affordable solution that could be implemented this year, but are as yet making no promises.
LCTA has come a long way with the GWT since the original purchase of six miles of right-of-way from CMC Heartland in 1998. Eight additional purchase or easement agreements have been negotiated since then to add much needed additional right-of-way. Four of these agreements were for Phase I, three for Phase II, and one for the future Phase III development.
Special efforts are continuing to be made to talk to, meet with, and work with various neighbors living near the trail. We hope to listen to any concerns that they may have, and try to cooperate with them whenever possible on resolving any special problems relating to the development of the trail. This will continue to be a priority because we are the “new kids on the block” and they are understandably concerned about what kind of neighbors we will be.
Cedar Lake Trail Hub Has Rich History
The next time you ride your bike or jog the trail along the banks of Cedar Lake, say a quiet ‘thank you’ to the visionaries who had the foresight to develop and preserve parts of the lake area for future recreational use.
Today, Cedar Lake provides a quiet link to our city’s past. The peace and quiet that exists in this urban wildlife sanctuary is a lasting monument to the early forces that shaped Cedar Rapids.
First used by Indians and Cedar Rapids’s earliest settlers for a place to hunt and fish, Cedar Lake has always played an important role in the development of our city.
In its early years, the backwaters of the Cedar River combined with the crystal clear spring water from McCloud’s Run to form a swamp-like area or “slough.”
In 1910, Iowa Electric Light and Power built a dam to back up the water and form a lake. Not only did the dam alleviate the smell of the “slough,” but it also provided water for the coal generation plant. Iowa Electric found that the spring-fed water from McCloud’s Run worked better in their steam boilers than river water from the Cedar.
The proximity of the Sixth Street power plant to downtown and its central hub location resulted in a flux of railroad development during the turn of the century. Whether moving grain from Quaker Oats or beer from one of the early breweries that once lined the lake before Prohibition, industries have always used the lake for their needs.
But it was during the turn of the century that city leaders began to talk about the need to develop the Cedar Lake area for recreational uses. WG Haskell, Alderman and early Riverfront Commissioner, said “that it is of the opinion of those who have looked over the ground that the lake could be converted into a most beautiful resort unequaled by anything in all Iowa, if funds were available.”
Also in 1910 efforts to provide ice skating on the lake fell short when the City Council turned down a request by the Woman’s Garden Club to string lights on the lake and pay an $18 dollar a month light bill.
During the depression, the lake was stocked by the DNR with game fish—truckloads of fish were distributed to the poor.
Fast forward to 1979, when a citizens committee of members from the Daniel’s Park neighborhood identified the Cedar Lake area as a prime location ripe for recreational development. Soon, the 22-member Cedar Lake Master Planning committee was formed. They developed a plan that advocated the public purchase of land in the area. Today the trails and bike paths in the area are a direct result of the plan. While not all of the ideas were implemented, the plan laid the groundwork for the future direction of the park.
Probably the most important result of the plan was an agreement worked out in 1982 between the owner of the lake, Iowa Electric Light and Power (today known as Alliant), and the City of Cedar Rapids. It allows the city, for the sum of one dollar, to lease the lake area for recreational purposes. In the lease, the city assumes liability for use, but the primary use of the lake remains Alliant’s. This public/private partnership continues to be one that greatly benefits the citizens of Cedar Rapids.
Unfortunately, water quality problems surfaced in the early 80’s when fish tested by the DNR showed high quantities of the chemical Chlordane. This chemical was sprayed around the foundation of houses in the area to fight termites. It was banned by the EPA in 1978 but still showed up in the lake sediment. This put Cedar Lake on the list of the DNR’s impaired lakes and prohibited the fish from being consumed by anglers.
Today we know much more about the lake. Like many urban lakes, the water quality is influenced by what runs into it, and in Cedar Lake the primary problem is the sedimentation that impacts it. However the good news is that the Chlordane levels are dropping and that next year the lake may no longer appear on the DNR’s list of impaired bodies of water.
Last year the Cedar Rapids City Council assembled an interdepartmental team of planners, engineers, water control, and park staff, and dusted off the original 1980 Cedar Lake plan. Updated and revised to insure for the future preservation of primary parts of the park for recreation, the new plan will improve the lake area for the use of future generations.
Current projects for the area include construction this summer, to complete the trail loop all the way around the lake. Design work is substantially complete and the trail should be ready for use this September.
The same factors that made the Cedar Lake area crucial to the development of early Cedar Rapids, today are demonstrated in importance for recreation use. The lake’s central location allows it to act as a trail hub and connector to all quadrants of the city. Continued purchase and preservation of land in the area will insure that Cedar Lake continues to play a major role in serving the recreational needs for trail users in Linn County.
By Diane Handler
For in-line skaters, a smooth paved and scenic trail is a real bonus. The Cannon Valley Trail in the central eastern part of Minnesota fills the bill. The trail is 20 miles long, and goes from Cannon Falls to Red Wing.
My husband, Bob, and I have visited many trails in Minnesota and this trail turned out to be one of our favorites! The trail goes along an old railroad route that hugged the Cannon River. Tree lined corridors, and open meadows abound, with scenic views of the river.
The first time we visited the trail, we bicycled from Cannon Falls to Red Wing (and back again). Both towns are quaint and have lunch spots, shopping and good trail heads. We had planned to inline skate, but a fine misty rain was falling so we donned rain/wind breakers and unloaded the bicycles. We always bring both bikes and skates for days like this, and for variety. The skates slip on a wet trail surface and once the ball bearings in the wheels get wet, they have to be taken apart and dried—it is a mess. The bicycling was perfect. We got wet but it was a warm rain and the view was great. Once in Red Wing, a prosperous town by the Mississippi River, we had lunch, biked around the town and headed back up the trail. The rail bed type trail offers a gentle grade so the ride back was easy.
We visited Cannon Valley Trail on a later trip and were able to in-line skate. The trail was smooth and it was a great feeling to be flying down the trail. The tree lined areas offered great cover from the sun and wind.
Other paved trails within an easy drive of the Cannon Valley Trail, include the ever-popular Root River Trail and the lesser-used Douglas Trail, which goes from Pine Island to Rochester. Rochester is a gem of a city to stay in and it too has miles of paved trails in town. Rochester also has tons of hotel rooms (due to the Mayo Clinic) and great restaurants.
A new section of the Root River, from Preston to Harmony, was quite different from the rest of the trail. From Preston we skated along a river, then turned and started up a bluff. The climb went fine and once at the top we were in farm country. Pastures and rows of corn surrounded the trail. The truly amazing feature was all the bluebird houses on the fence posts, about every ¼ mile, and all the bluebirds. Every house seemed to have a family. There were also plenty of meadowlarks and swallows. It bordered on magical!
Government
Relations/Trail Development Committee Report
Trails
Status - April, 2001
This
report on the status of trails in Linn County contains general information on
the Cedar River Trail construction, the Cemar Trail, the West Loop and the
project to improve trail safety and courtesy. More details are in the trails
status chart (pages 6-7) in this issue of TRAIL CONNECTIONS.
Construction has started on that section of the CEDAR RIVER TRAIL North to 42nd Street from the parking area at McLeod Run Place. With good weather people living in the Pierce School neighborhood will have better access this summer. Design work is nearing completion for the section going North of 42nd Street and the city is trying to get the work let this summer. Negotiations are underway for a parking lot South of Collins Road.
Hiawatha continues to work on alternate routes- one of which would cause Cedar Rapids to modify their plans. The Most likely scenario is running the trail along Center Point Road crossing Blairs Ferry Road at the main crossing light. Hiawatha ran into problems with the original route along the Railroad ROW and several alternatives which were tried impacted parking and driveways.
Contract letting for the remainder of the Cedar Lake Loop trail is scheduled for June. Paving along the South side of the lake was completed last fall so that this work will complete the loop. Parking is available off Shaver Road.
Construction
of a trail parking lot for the South end of the CRT is underway at Tait Cummins
Park and use can probably start in a month.
We are close to having all the easements for the Cedar River Trail going South from Tait Cummins Park. New design and IDOT approvals are required for the section down to Highway 30. South of Highway 30 the old design can still be used. Because of delays and route changes we need to find more money for this section and the County part of the trail where it connects with the Hoover Trail.
CEMAR TRAIL is the new name of the link between Cedar Rapids and Marion. The segments and connections are detailed in the trail matrix. This is a very strategic trail since it not only connects Cedar Rapids and Marion, but it will lead to the Dry Creek plus GRANT WOOD and SQUAW CREEK TRAILS where they come together in Squaw Creek Park. We intend to resubmit this trail for Federal funding at the next opportunity. We are hoping that a better explanation of the value of this trail and the support of Marion will convince the people at IDOT.
The trail matrix has been expanded to list several new connections if/when the highway 100 bypass is built around the west side of Cedar Rapids. These connections not only support the strategic value of the West Loop Trail but they will result in some very nice “loops” which are being sought by more of you who would like to return “another way.”
RIVER LOOP
While two segments of the west river trail are paved, we still need to close the gaps. Through the downtown section of Cedar Rapids this could be a matter of some signs. There are, however, two places needing some work—behind the police station and along the river in Ellis Park where a water main expansion (which would run under the trail) is holding things up. We will try to get some action on any property matters, which often come up late in the process and cause delays.
At the July LCTA Board meeting there was considerable discussion about the need to do more about making our trails safe and pleasant places for people to enjoy. Several meetings between LCTA and the Cedar Rapids Parks, Traffic and Safety Departments followed. We have come up with signage and publicity ideas, which we hope to implement soon. The new signs will direct people where to walk, where/how to pass, and will give some improved directional information for people new to the trail system. We are also starting work on a video (targeted for school age persons), and a brochure, which will repeat some of the rules of good trail usage.
CVNT
Tree Removal
A second
“Visioning” meeting was held on April 9th to discuss
Alliant Energy’s plan to remove trees along the right side
of the right-of-way along 13 miles of the Cedar
Valley Nature Trail.
The plan was very different from that which was presented at the first
meeting in January. Reacting to
concerns raised at the first meeting, the new plan tempers the amount of
removal as well as providing for a
better plan for replanting in those
areas which will be affected.
A large
contingent of LCTA members were present at the second meeting and felt that the
plan was becoming much more tolerable as both sides attempt to find a common
ground. LCTA will continue to monitor this process and will keep
everyone updated. Thanks to all of you
who have been involved.
The
following trail
supporters
have donated
to
trail development!
$0-$15
Robert and
Velma Leuenberger
John
Ely
David and
Linda Langston
$16-$25
Dick &
Mary Allemang
Tom, Sue
and Jessica Bullis
Gary Donnermeyer
Laura
Fashoda
Sarah and
Richard Knight
Howard
Schiffer
John and
Beverly Zamastil
$26-$50
Daniel and
Monica Baldwin
Martin
Bruns
Lee
Clancey
Craig
Clark
Gordon
Gott
John and
Nancy Herring
George
& Mary Kanz
Art &
Joyce Kelsey
Jerry and
Regina Meyer
Dr. Dale
and Ann Roberson
$51-$100
Cheryl and
Richard Bartunek
R.L. and
B.K. Flint
Dr. James
R. & Sharlene Anne Flynn
Sara
McDermott
Stephen and
Leah Nelson
$200
Laurie
Frisch
$300
Charles
Grado & Ruth Macke
$1,333
Weaver
Witwer Trust
$2,000
Esther
& Myron Wilson
The Greater
Cedar Rapids Foundation
Welcome and Thanks to These
New and Renewing Members,
Dr. and
Mrs. David Ard Family
Michael
& Linda Augustine Family
Patrick and
Judith Baird Trailblazer
Gerry and
Kathryn Barr Family
Ron and
Catherine Baty Family
Gregory and
Teresa Best Trailblazer
Beth
Blakeslee Individual
Robert
Boettcher Family
Dr Jeffrey
and Diane Buffo Trailblazer
Norma
Burnham Individual
John R.
& Joan Carpenter Family
Jeff and
Sara Clark Family
Carolyn
Cleveland Family
Kenneth and
Becky Collier Trailblazer
Lillian
Coonrod Family
Dr. Don
Damsteegt Family
Bob &
Roberta Davison Family
Brian and
Teri Donnelly Family
Gary
Donnermeyer Individual
Fred and
Velga Easker Family
John Ely Family
Lelland
Freie Individual
Mr. And
Mrs. William Gasway Family
Gary
Goldstein Trailblazer
Tim Grady Individual
Mary O.
& Donald P. Hattery Family
Doug and
Linda Hill Family
Lynn &
Polly Hudecek Trailblazer
Jill
Jamieson Individual
Gregory and
Paulette Keeley Family
Charles and
Rebecca Kelsey Family
Judy Kinney Individual
Bill
Landers Individual
Theodore
and Christine
Lawler Family
Robert and
Velma
Leuenberger Individual
Peg and
John Maher Family
David
Maresh Individual
Sally and
Daniel McAleer Family
Sara
McDermott Individual
Nevin
Meredith IndividualJames
Monagan Trailblazer
Ron Moore Individual
Susan Murty Family
Stephen and
Leah Nelson Trailblazer
Ronald and
Margaret Nelson Family
David and
Carolyn Oliver Family
Dorothy
Peterson Individual
Helen, Don
and Jon Quass Family
Dick and
Ann Ramsey Family
John &
Barbara Rosenberg Trailblazer
Larry and
Bonnie Roth Family
Timothy and
Shonda Ryken Family
Sandra K
Scaia Individual
Glenn and
Darlene Schuller Family
William
Schwarz Family
Daniel and
Janet Shaffer Family
James and
Nancy Spencer Individual
Ruby
Spencer Individual
Peter and
Susan Stamats Family
Steve
Sutliff Individual
Robert and
Ann Swaney Family
Don
Thomas Trailblazer
Kathy
Toborg Individual
Bill and
Jerilyn Vincent Family
Rebecca and
Stephen Vlcko Trailblazer
Ronald
Wasik Trailblazer
Dr. John
Wollner Trailblazer
Robert
Woods Family
Marlin
Zuber Individual
THANK YOU!