By CHUCK OFFENBURGER
Board member, RRVT Association
MADRID, Iowa, April 27, 2011 — We’ve now had our first look at the brand new 25-mile-long “High Trestle Trail” and its already-legendary ”Art Bridge” that is a half-mile long and 13 stories high.
It’s as good as they were saying it was going to be. Maybe better.
“This is something I’m going to look forward to, riding my bicycle on this trail and across this bridge,” said Governor Terry Branstad, who reminded the crowd at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 27, that he and First Lady Chris Branstad own a home eight miles north of the trail. “And I’m sure my children and grandchildren will want to ride it, too, as well as people coming from across the nation.”
“I love it!” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. “This is another great example of big things happening in small places.”
“It’s been a $15 million project,” said Mark Ackelson, president of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, which led the development, fundraising and promotion of the new trail. “That’s quite a price. But when you think about all the wonderful experiences that our families, friends and visitors from across the nation are going to have out here, it’s really a priceless project.” He noted that 80 percent of the cost was covered by 18 different public grants.
Congressman Leonard Boswell said he looks forward to riding his bicycle on the trail, too, and he told about how in recent years, he has flown an airplane up the river valley many times to monitor the project. “This is a natural, just what we need,” Boswell said. “People across the United States know Iowa for RAGBRAI, which is tremendous, but I tell people to come to Iowa a week early, or stay afterward, and ride our recreational trails. I see this and it makes me look forward to our next (trail) project. Let’s just keep on going.”
Read the remainder of the article and see some great pictures of the HTT here:
MADRID, Iowa, April 27, 2011 — We’ve now had our first look at the brand new 25-mile-long “High Trestle Trail” and its already-legendary ”Art Bridge” that is a half-mile long and 13 stories high.
It’s as good as they were saying it was going to be. Maybe better.
“This is something I’m going to look forward to, riding my bicycle on this trail and across this bridge,” said Governor Terry Branstad, who reminded the crowd at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 27, that he and First Lady Chris Branstad own a home eight miles north of the trail. “And I’m sure my children and grandchildren will want to ride it, too, as well as people coming from across the nation.”
“I love it!” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. “This is another great example of big things happening in small places.”
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| Governor Terry Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation President Mark Ackelson, U.S. Congressman Leonard Boswell and other dignitaries gathered Wednesday, April 27, at the west end of the “Art Bridge” on the brand new High Trestle Trail for a ribbon cutting and formal opening. A “Grand Celebration” of the opening is scheduled in all the towns on Saturday, April 30 |
Congressman Leonard Boswell said he looks forward to riding his bicycle on the trail, too, and he told about how in recent years, he has flown an airplane up the river valley many times to monitor the project. “This is a natural, just what we need,” Boswell said. “People across the United States know Iowa for RAGBRAI, which is tremendous, but I tell people to come to Iowa a week early, or stay afterward, and ride our recreational trails. I see this and it makes me look forward to our next (trail) project. Let’s just keep on going.”
Read the remainder of the article and see some great pictures of the HTT here:
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