Mayor's annual bike ride raises money for Des Moines trails

Carson J. S. Reichardt
Sat September 18 2021
Posted Sep 20, 2021
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Funds from this year's ride will be used to add more bike repair stations along the city's trails.

Hundreds of cyclists joined the Des Moines Mayor's Annual Ride Saturday to help support the trails they love to use.

Funds raised from the ride go to improving the city's nearly 70 miles of paved trails.

Taking off from Principal Park, riders passed Gray's Lake and Easter Lake over the course of the 20-mile ride. Among the participants were multiple members of the Dream Team, a central Iowa nonprofit that helps kids build confidence and learn to set goals through cycling.

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The proceeds from this year's ride are going to funding bike repair stations for around Des Moines trails. Over the past ten years, the event has raised more than $76,000.

"Events like the mayor's annual ride, and we have great partnerships with the friends of Des Moines parks, we have an excellent grant writing team," said Jennifer Fletcher, marketing supervisor for Des Moines Parks and Recreation. "And we put all this together and it really does help augment our budget."