FORT DODGE, Iowa -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, and the city of Fort Dodge invite the public to a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Fort Dodge Greenbelt Trails Project. The ceremony will take place May 18 at 11 a.m. near a trail access site at the corner of 16th St. SW. and 14th Ave. SW.
The 15-year, $7.8 million project was funded through a 50/50 cost share agreement between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Fort Dodge. It was completed in two stages and added nearly three miles of trails along the Des Moines River and increased river access for recreational users.
Stage one of the project was constructed between 2012-2014 and included the addition of three parking areas, kayak portages and a concrete boat ramp. Additionally, several 10-foot wide asphalt multipurpose trails were installed including the Sunkissed Meadows Trail, North Trail Extension and the first segment of the Main Trail. Stage two was constructed between 2018-2020 and added 6,000 feet of trail, a stream crossing and several retaining walls.
The Fort Dodge Trails Project is part of the larger Des Moines Recreational River and Greenbelt Program which was authorized by Congress in 1985 to provide recreation, streambank stabilization, and environmental enhancement along the Des Moines, Boone, and Raccoon rivers. The program covers more than 410,000 acres from Fort Dodge to the Lake Red Rock Dam near Pella, Iowa.
For more information, contact the Rock Island District Corporate Communications office at 309-794-5729.
Release no. 21-036