Marshalltown Opens New Gateway to Iowa River's Edge Trail

Posted Aug 18
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Marshalltown is getting another major trail connection - and this one comes with a pretty cool bridge.

The community will celebrate the grand opening of the Emerson Bridge and Ann C. Keyser Trailhead on Saturday, August 22, marking another big step in the transformation of Marshalltown's Linn Creek District.

A ribbon cutting will take place from 5:00–5:30 p.m. at the Ann C. Keyser Trailhead, 802 3rd-6th St.

More Than a New Bridge

The Emerson Bridge crosses Linn Creek and creates an important new connection within Marshalltown's growing trail network.

But this isn't your ordinary trail bridge.

The bridge was designed as both transportation infrastructure and public art, with a colorful, distinctive design intended to make the crossing a destination of its own.

On the other side, the new Ann C. Keyser Trailhead provides riders and trail users with a new entry point into the Linn Creek District and better connections to nearby destinations.

A Gateway to the Iowa River's Edge Trail

For cyclists, perhaps the biggest part of the project is the trailhead's role as the official Marshalltown trailhead for the Iowa River's Edge Trail.

The developing Iowa River's Edge Trail will eventually create approximately 34 miles of trail between Marshalltown and Steamboat Rock, connecting communities along the Iowa River corridor.

That makes the new trailhead much more than a neighborhood amenity - it helps establish Marshalltown as a gateway to a growing regional trail system and another potential destination for Iowa bicycle tourism.

Connecting Trails to the Community

The project is also a great example of something we love seeing across Iowa: trails being connected directly to places people actually want to visit.

Following Saturday's ribbon cutting, visitors are encouraged to cross the new Emerson Bridge and continue into the Linn Creek District, where businesses and attractions will participate in the celebration.

Wayward Social will have live music from 5–10 p.m., and the American Legion Memorial Golf Course will also offer specials during the evening.

The bridge and trailhead are part of a much larger effort to reimagine the Linn Creek District around recreation, arts, culture and community connections.

The Apgar Family Water Plaza opened earlier this summer, and the Martha-Ellen Tye Playhouse is expected to open later this fall.

Put all of those pieces together - trails, public art, recreation, entertainment and businesses connected without having to get in a car- and Marshalltown is building the kind of destination that works especially well for people arriving by bicycle.