A group of avid trail supporters from Buena Vista, Carroll, Clay, Dickinson and Sac counties gathered in Storm Lake recently to discuss a proposed Iowa Great Lakes Connection 5-County Trail.
As proposed, the trail would follow the Highway 71 corridor to complete a trail from Spirit Lake south to Carroll. New trail would run from Spencer to Lake View, connecting to existing trail systems on each end – the Iowa Great Lakes Spine Trail to the north and the Sauk Rail Trail to the south. Smaller loops could possibly connect other communities, such as Linn Grove.
The last time this group met was in 2013, when the discussion sought ways to connect the five counties in northwest Iowa to the Racoon River Valley Trail, in Jefferson. Four members of the original group were in attendance at this recent meeting, as well as 25 new attendees including several from Storm Lake and Buena Vista County. Representatives from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition also participated.
The leaders of the group foresees the project eventually growing into a 220(+) mile paved trail from the Okoboji area to Des Moines, and potentially beyond as new trail projects develop in Iowa and surrounding states. The trail could be part of a larger proposed system connecting Sioux Falls with Des Moines, it was suggested.
Members of the group felt that five counties working together could have more political impact and success in seeking grants and donations, than counties would be separately, competing against each other for limited trails funding.
Group Organizer Kathy Fueston from Spencer, said she was elated to see so many people at the meeting, and encouraged by camaraderie and collaboration among the group. She called it a “recharge and rebirth” of the effort. “All of us have a mutual goal - to get this trail completed, which will promote bike rider safety, and to see it done in our lifetime,” she said. “It will also be another great tourism component for the state of Iowa, since it will encompass nearly 20 lakes.”
Local proponents suggested that it may also be time to revive a Buena Vista County Trails Committee, which has been inactive for several years.
Despite the fact that several years have passed since the first meeting in 2013, the counties have continued to work on trail development, Fueston said. Carroll and Sac County have built over 33 miles of trail between Carroll and Lake View. Sac County is currently working on plans to connect Sac City to Lake View. Clay County finished their extension north to Dickinson County in 2024 and Dickinson County plans to begin construction south to Clay County this summer. Discussion at the recent meeting focused on how to connect the two last remaining counties - Clay to Buena Vista and Buena Vista to Sac. With input from a few of the county engineers, it was decided that running the trail along the Highway 71 corridor seemed the most feasible option. The group plans to seek input from officials of the five counties and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Jamie Lawrence, representative from Sac City, suggested the group form a core group that would meet on a quarterly or as-needed basis to address any issues, seek funding sources and to communicate with state and local leaders. Plans are for two representatives from each county to be selected to make up the core group.