October 2025 E News
- LCTA
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Indian Creek LINK is almost done! The long awaited quarter mile hard surfacing of the Indian Creek Trail linking to the Grant Wood Trail, CeMar and the Boyson Trail will be done this week! LCTA with your help donated $25,000 to the City of Marion for this project.
SO MUCH ELSE is happening in October as the construction season wraps up!
Morgan Creek Trail, 42nd Street to the Cedar River
Morgan Creek 42nd St to Cedar River - Work has progressed well (see pictures above). All the bridge railing/fencing has also been completed and most of the paving is done. Work still to be completed includes back filling the trail edges and stabilizing, and fencing. Completion of the project in November!
42nd Street NE River Ridge Dr NE to Pine View Dr NE
42nd St NE - River Ridge Dr NE to Pine View Dr NE - Construction is ongoing on the first phase of a project to rebuild the entire roadway and sidewalks from River Ridge Dr NE to Wenig Rd NE. The 2nd phase from Pine View Dr NE to Wenig Rd NE will be bid later this year and constructed in 2026. The project includes new wider, more bike friendly sidewalks (6’) and will fill in sidewalk gaps on the north side of 42nd St NE along Twin Pines Golf Course. Bike lanes will remain, but will be redesigned as “buffered” bike lanes adding an additional foot in width and a wider (12”) lane line between the bike lane and the travel lane.
Last Segment of the CEMAR Trail
CeMar Trail (map above)- A preconstruction meeting was held in September with the contractor on the final CeMar segment to connect Cedar Rapids to Marion! They hope to begin work this winter on tree clearing and foundation work for the bridges. This schedule is weather dependent. The premanufactured bridge drawings have been reviewed and approved, and sent to the supplier to start fabrication. Bridges will be ready in March. LCTA donated a final $20,000 to complete the connection! Thanks donors!
Iowa Trails Summit
The Iowa Trails Summit was held close to home this year in Cedar Falls. The summit is a great chance for trail-minded groups to meet with the experts who make trails happen all over the country! LCTA’s Tom Peffer, past LCTA President, joined a panel to discuss The Power of Partnership—Building Effective Trail Committees. LCTA was delighted to be a part of the Summit and between Tom Peffer and Bob Gregory, a second LCTA Board member to attend, many great ideas were brought back to our community.
Rail Banking may be in danger
Rail banking preserves unused rail corridors for potential future rail use while allowing them to be converted into recreational trails in the interim. It significantly impacts trail development by preventing the land from being abandoned and broken up among adjacent landowners, which would otherwise make continuous trail creation impossible. Be aware that there is a bill HR 4924 in Congress that could eliminate rail banking. The Cedar Valley Nature Trail is an example of a trail created by rail banking.
"Fun" Raisers made $ for Trails!
Treasures on the Trail is a wrap!
LCTA would like to thank all of our Sponsors and Businesses who donated to this event. Please support these businesses who want to continue helping us to Make Trails Happen! Primary Sponsors - Hall Bicycle and Big Grove Brewery and a huge thanks to Nikki Northrup for pulling this new event all together!
Also thanks for prizes from Dairy Queen, Milex Complete Auto Care, Cedar Rapids Running Company, Sag Wagon, House Divided Brewery, Hyvee, Bike Rags, Raining Rose, McGrath Auto, AirFX Trampoline Park, Paul Revere Pizza, Budget Car Rental
Huge thanks to SOKO Outfitters for sponsoring Pint Night to benefit LCTA! Thanks for great community support!
Thanks to our Amazing Business Donors in 2025!
(* Denotes donors who have given three or more years)
Trail Champions ($5,000+)
Trail Builders ($1,000-$4,999)
Trail Blazers ($500-$999)
Trail Partner ($250-$499)
Trail Scout ($100-$249)