Trail Connections 

The Quarterly Newletter Published by the Linn County Trails Association 

President’s Message

By Jim Wing, LCTA president


As the new LCTA president, I thought I would try to explain why I spend so much time on this trail
business. Getting interested in the trail movement was a logical progression for me. As a boy, I had a
great interest in railroads and particularly in the geography of the rail networks. I loved to study the
locations of the different railroad systems, and the topo-graphies they traversed.
As an adult, I became an avid cyclist. The connection between the two interests became 
unavoid-able. I rode my bike on highways and secondary roads, but I always had the most fun when I
could check out a new trail, particularly if it was a converted railroad right-of-way. Riding down one
of these paths imagining the magnificent machines that proceeded me always seemed like a great way to
spend a day.
Preserving railroad corridors is a lot of what LCTA is about. The Grant Wood Trail we are working
on, is an example of trying to piece a right-of-way together after parcels have been sold off. The
Hoover Trail south of Cedar Rapids is a similar situation. Alliant’s interurban route to Lisbon remains
intact. There is a finite amount of these abandoned rail corridors. We look at some that are lost forever
and wonder what might have been. It is incumbent upon this organization to save what remains. These
corridors are located where one can escape to the country, exercise and enjoy nature simultaneously,
and experience a part of our history. No one is critical of those who went before them preserving too
much parkland and open spaces.
These are some of the reasons that the other board members of LCTA and I spend an incredible
amount of time working on something we believe in. We have been doing this for a decade. It is a
long, difficult process. Your continued membership and financial support allows us to do a very good
deed for this community. We are very appreciative.
Finally, I’d like to thank outgoing president Joel Barnum for leading this organization for the past
three years. During this time, LCTA matured as an organization. Joel’s leadership, vision, and
willingness to take a risk have been essential to this organization’s development. 
Thanks, Joel. 


Grant Wood Trail Expands Dramatically

GRANT WOOD TRAIL REPORT

By Keith Fletcher

January 8, 2001
We have some very good news to report! As you know, our efforts in the last year regarding the
Grant Wood Trail (GWT) have been focused on the two miles of right of way (ROW) between
Creekside Road and Springville Road. This portion of the ROW is shown on the accompanying map.
When the last newsletter came out, we were still working hard to finalize two important real estate
transactions. Both of these have now been successfully completed.
The first situation involved negotiating a 16-foot-wide easement along the north edge of the Janet
Koons property (Segment G on the map). This easement agreement with Janet Koons has now been
finalized. The second transaction involved the purchase of 0.2 miles of ROW immediately to the south
of Paralta Road and is shown as Segment F on the map. This portion belonged to Park Avenue Realty
and we had been negotiating on this parcel of land, off and on, for several years. This deal was just
finalized in the first week of 2001 and represents a very important milestone in 
our trail plans.
To put all of this in perspective, we now have ownership or easement rights to two miles of ROW all
the way from Creekside Road to Springville Road. The only exception to this is that there is a missing
bridge across Simmons Creek in Segment F, as you will see indicated on the map. This will be a
challenging problem to resolve. We are just starting to think about possible solutions.
You will also notice from the map that trail users would have to detour off the ROW on county
roads to get from our present trailhead at Oxley Road to Creekside Road. At some future date, we
envision that it would be feasible to have a separate trail route parallel to Oxley and Secrist Roads.
The Creekside to Springville Road segment will need a lot of work to make it suitable for use. We will utilize
volunteer workers as much as possible this year to get the momentum going on this activity. We actually got a good
start on this last October with a four-hour trail clearing session starting at the west end of Segment D and proceeding
about three-quarters of a mile up toward Segment F. More than 15 volunteers showed up on a Tuesday morning with
their chain saws, loppers, and other tools, and it turned out to be a regular beehive of activity!
Our existing trail suffered some vandalism late in the fall when someone drove the entire length of the
trail and smashed through gates at Highway 13, Hindman Road and Oxley Road. This was reported to
the Sheriff's office and repairs will be made in the spring.
Ironically, during the same week, some truly constructive activity was going on just west of Hindman
Road where Jeff Meiners, his father, and a friend installed a bench alongside the trail. (See photo,
left). This was a Scout activity for Jeff and we greatly appreciate his efforts. We like to believe that
most of the kids today are more like Jeff and are “Bench-Builders” rather than “Gate-Bashers”!


On the Road Again

By Jim Wing

A new feature of the Trail Connections newsletter will be the “On The Road Again” column. In
each issue, writers will describe trails encountered around the state and country that may be of interest
to our members. 
I’m going to take the first shift.
Last summer my wife Barbara and I visited Pennsylvania. This was not the Pennsylvania of the
Liberty Bell, Hersheypark, Gettysburg, or Amish country. This was rugged, mountainous, beautiful
Pennsylvania that every trail lover might want to consider for a vacation.
After a fun day in Pittsburg, we headed east, stopping in central Pennsylvania to visit the East Broad
Top Railroad. Abandoned in 1956, it remains virtually intact from the day it was shut down. It was a
coal hauling, narrow gauge steam railroad and still has six steam engines, four of which are operational. 
The shops and station in Orbisonia are right out of the 19th century. Steam train rides are given, and if
you want to experience a time warp, try a few hours at this fantastic historical site.
A couple hours further east found us at the Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail. This limestone trail hugs
the Lehigh River for 25 miles between Jim Thorpe and White Haven. Spectacular scenery and roaring
rapids are found at the Lehigh Gorge. It was surely one of the most beautiful trails I have ever been on.
Working our way back west we stopped at Ricketts Glen State Park which is about 35 miles west
of Wilkes Barre. This 13,500-acre park has 26 miles of hiking trails. The most spectacular is the Falls
Trail, which descends and ascends among 22 waterfalls. The climbing is strenuous, and I wouldn’t
recommend it for children under 10. The park was almost made a national park before the state took it
over, and a visit here will amaze you with its incredible beauty.
About three hours northwest of Ricketts Glen is the Pine Creek Trail. It is best accessed at the town
of Ansonia. Twenty-seven of the 62 miles of this former New York Central right-of-way have been
developed and surfaced with crushed limestone. The trail follows Pine Creek the entire distance and
Pine Creek Gorge is referred to as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Fantastic rock outcroppings
and waterfalls make this a fabulous trail. Nearby Leonard Harrison and Colton Point State Parks
provide camping and related features. 
We next worked our way down to the southwestern part of the state and checked out different
sections of the Youghiogheny (pronounced yaw-ki-gay-nee) Trail. This 68 mile crushed limestone trail
is part of a series of trails which will connect Pittsburg with Washington DC. It includes the 184-mile
C&O Canal Towpath Trail between Cumberland, Maryland, and Washington. The vast majority of this
system has been completed. 
The Youghiogheny Trail section is all on abandoned railroad beds and features great trestles and
bridges as well as more spectacular scenery. The 19,000-acre Ohiopyle State Park is the focal point
along the trail. It is a whitewater rafting and kayaking center and features a large waterfall. More
information on this trail can be found at www.atatrail.org.
The entire trip was great. Besides the scenery and great trails we had an endless history lesson. 
Abandoned iron furnaces, mills, and battlefields from the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars
are everywhere. Antique shops and classic architecture abound. I’m planning on going back soon, as
we just scratched the surface.
I bought the book Pennsylvania’s Rail-Trails from Barnes & Noble bookstore, for $15. I found it to
be accurate, easy to use, and invaluable in helping plan our trip. It details 100 different trails. Please
feel free to call me at 319-363-1093 if you have any questions.



Freedom Festival Event

Walk, Ride or ‘Blade the Cedar River Trail during the Freedom Festival 

LCTA will sponsor this facet of the Freedom Festival Event on July 2, 2001, starting at
Greene Square Park, and proceeding to Tait Cummins Park. Along the way, free drinks
and snacks will be provided to the first 200 participants. A Festival button will be required. 
We welcome families to this new event. 
Mark your calendars now!


Government Relations/Trail Development Committee Report

TRAILS STATUS, January 2001

By Ron McGraw


We continue to work on the 2001 trail construction plan, but we have both some good news
and some setbacks. Our hope for funding the NE Corridor and the South segment of the Cedar River
Trail received a setback when the funding requests did not reach the top of the pile in both the State and
Federal funding contests. Some better news is that the Sac Fox extensions have been given a jump start
and we are making progress on the rest of the 2001 construction plan. These and other changes are
highlighted in the Trail Status Summary on pages 6-7.
For 2001 we will be trying to extend both the North and South ends of the Cedar River Trail,
This will require Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Linn County to all be very active. We also expect to
complete the Cedar Lake Loop to give us much better access to the main trail and also to provide a
comfort station. 

CEDAR RIVER TRAIL

Segment B (Hiawatha)- LCTA was successful in helping Hiawatha raise the $15,000 in matching
funds for this segment. There are still some routing decisions, but we hope that this portion will be
completed this season.

Segment C -Although Federal Highway Administration approval did not come in time for work on the
continuation of the trail to 42nd streets to get started, they have given their approval for the rest of the
route up to Blairs Ferry Road and design work is getting done fast. We are trying for a May bid letting.

Segment F -This year we expect to complete the construction from Tait Cummins Park to half mile
south of HWY 30. We have settled on a new route which keeps trail users away from most of the C
Avenue traffic, thanks to help from several businesses who have granted easements. We are trying for a
May bid letting.

Segment G -Funding requests were denied twice 
and we no longer have any hope for construction this year. Since this is an important link in the regional
and the American Discovery Trail, it is hard to understand why this segment does not get higher priority
over trails which do not 
have significant regional and national connectivity. We are attempting to find 
out why this request is ranked so low.

Cedar Lake Loop -This trail was jump-
started last Fall with the paving of the 
viaduct on the South side of the Cedar 
Lake. We are expecting to let bids for the remaining work about April.
RIVER LOOP

WEST RIVER TRAIL- The levee across the river from Quaker Oats and the stretch through Riverside
Park was paved last Fall. Work in the Ellis park area is on hold until a decision is reached about a
water main expansion (which would run under the trail.). Now we need to address the gap behind the
police station and the signage for that portion of the trail which can be used.

WEST LOOP-We have defined a trail head in the Twin Pines and Morgan Creek Parks to meet the
request of IDOT that we show that we can accommodate trail users. We continue to work on
connecting trail routes south and East of Twin Pines Park. Another matter is the NW side Connector
which was thrown off plan when Edgewood Road was not reconstructed (the trail was to be done at
the same time). Another plan will be worked out soon.

SE SIDE CONNECTOR -Cedar Rapids has acquired land running from Bever Park North to 34th
Street which we will try to get turned into a trail this year. The plan is to connect this with the Sac Fox
Trail by following Indian Creek if we can get easements from several property owners. 

TRAIL SAFETY AND COURTESY
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 Department have come up with some new signage and publicity ideas and
the LCTA Board in January gave support to some suggested signs. We will seek City approval to
proceed. We could still use help from people who have experience in promotional material for TV
usage.


Iowa Rail Trail History

By Tom Neenan

We tend to think of the winter months as slow times for trails. With thirty inches of snow falling
in December in Iowa and with most of it still on the ground, that is a true picture as far are trail USE
goes. But trail activity, where the Iowa Trails Council (ITC) is concerned, continues 12 months each
year.
The Iowa Trails Council was founded in 1984, with the intention of pursuing the creation of
trails converted from former railroad beds. The challenges that were to come were only partly
foreseen. Nationwide there was no experience with the new federal legislation that was designed to
“bank” railroad right of ways for potential reactivation of rail service with the interim use as trails. This
legislation was the main incentive to form the ITC. We were pioneers without a map or compass.
Railroads, likewise, had no experience with this legislation and there were no guidelines set
down by the Transportation Department, so we became innovative and experimented together.
Opponents to the rail-trail con-cept were resentful of the success of two of the nation's first such
endeavors—the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, in place by then between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids
metro areas, and the Heritage Trail between Dubuque and Dyersville. They were just as determined
that the ITC would not succeed with another such project.
After two failed attempts to convert rail beds to trails the nation's first rail trail under the federal
guidelines was born and prevails in what has become today the Sauk Rail Trail, extending for more than
30 miles between Swan Lake and Black Hawk Lake in Carroll and Sac Counties. The law that
assisted the ITC in its efforts, passed by Congress in 1983, was chal-lenged in the courts, finally
reaching the US Supreme Court.
In 1990 that court confirmed the validity of the law. In the five years between 1985 and 1990
the ITC successfully negotiated and established 11 rail trails in Iowa under this legislation, while only
two were successful in all of the other 49 states. Today, Iowa continues to lead the nation in the
number of conversions under this legislation. Iowa boasts almost 700 miles of conversions on more
than 40 rail trails.


Jones County GWT Dedication

On October 28th, 2000, the Jones County Grant Wood Trail Association dedicated the first half mile of
its section of the Grant Wood Trail, a Millennium Trail, at Martelle, IA. Robert and Roberta
Plattenberger, who donated the land, and then planted and tended trees on the half-mile section, were
honored.
The Plattenberger’s daughter, Margaret Kremer, spoke of her parents’ dedication to the
environment. 
Joy Adams unveiled a sign at the trail head with a newly designed logo. 
The new trail logo is available on cups, shirts and 
letterheads.


The following trail supporters have donated to trail development!
THANK YOU!