Over 1,200 bicyclists from eight states participated in the first-ever Pedaler’s Jamboree that traversed the 27-year-old Raccoon River Valley Trail last Saturday, Sept. 5. The festival that blends bicycles and music is patterned after the popular Pedaler’s Jamboree music event in Missouri that started in 2009. Riders started in Waukee traveled through Adel, Redfield, Linden, Panora and Yale before arriving in Jefferson for the Jefferson Music Festival that evening. Cyclists then returned to Waukee following the southern loop of the trail on Sunday. John Bruno of All Ability Cycles in Jefferson said the success of this event showcases Iowa’s trails as entertainment destinations.
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Bruno says an approximately $5 million project will make the Iowa trail routes an even bigger bicycling destination in Iowa in the next few years.
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Currently, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is working with the Dallas County Conservation Board, Dallas County Conservation Foundation, the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association and the cities of Perry, Bouton and Woodward on a nine mile connector between the High Trestle Trail and the Raccoon River Valley Trail. They are currently working on securing grants and collecting donations for Phase 1 of the project consisting of acquiring right of way and construction of a portion of the trail from Perry to Bouton.