Excitement is growing over the project
to convert the former Iowa River Railroad right-of-way to a multi-use
recreational trail that will eventually stretch from Marshalltown to Steamboat
Rock.
Over the past several weeks, a
number of key hurdles have been crossed including securing state grant funding
to purchase the right-of-way for eventual trail development; the formation of a
trails commission in Hardin County and a certified nonprofit in Marshall County
to oversee development, operation and eventual maintenance of the trail; and
the support of local government entities in both counties for the project to
move ahead.
Railroad salvage operations began this
past summer, and in many spots the rails and ties have already been
removed. Consequently, there has been a
number of reports of individuals already trying to use the future trail ranging
from walkers and joggers to reports of ATV's utilizing the corridor.
While it's great to see the public eager
for this project to move ahead and start using the future trail corridor for
recreational activities, it is important to stress that the right-of-way is currently CLOSED to the public and that
individuals must refrain from accessing the corridor until further notice.
Of primary concern is public
safety. Railroad salvage operations will
not be complete until the summer of 2014, and as a result there will continue
to be heavy construction equipment operating along the right-of-way until those
activities are finished. In addition,
there is much work to be done to stabilize and properly secure bridges and
other structures to make them safe for eventual public use; grading and surface
stabilization of the former rail bed that will be required; signage that must
be installed and a host of other activities that must be completed before the
trail can be safely opened to public use.
Individuals who fail to heed warnings to
avoid accessing the right-of-way are at
risk of jeopardizing their own personal safety as well as the safety of
others.
In the near future, representatives from both Hardin and
Marshall Counties will work together to craft a plan for development, operation
and maintenance of the eventual trail.
Part of this work will include developing rules and regulations that
will eventually dictate the types of recreational activities permitted on the
trail to ensure the public can best benefit from the future trail corridor
while ensuring the concerns of adjacent private property owners are properly
addressed. Until that time, the public
should refrain from use of the corridor to avoid creating conflicts which could
hinder trail development efforts and general support of the project.
Updates on the Iowa River Rail Trail
project, including information on how the public can best assist with efforts
to develop this future new recreational asset in Hardin and Marshall Counties,
can be found by visiting www.hardincountytrails.com.