PlyWood Trail Foundation provides updates on trails connecting Siouxland communities

LE MARS, Iowa ( KCAU ) — The PlyWood Trail Foundation has provided an update regarding the progress of the Phase 1 trail from Merrill to Le Mars.

According to a release, the trail is not yet ridable out of an abundance of caution due to weather conditions during the spring season.

“We’ve been excited for the trail to be open for all cyclists, runners, and walkers this summer, but an unusually wet spring and June flooding have led to completion challenges,” Executive Director Ryan Schaap said. “We appreciate the community’s patience, and we’re excited to provide a safe place for citizens to recreate and to connect the communities of Le Mars and Merrill this fall.”

The release states that the foundation is taking this time to clear the trail, make any necessary repairs, and replace seeding that washed away. The Phase 1 trail is now expected to be completed in the fall.

Additionally, the Foundation has applied for an Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program grant in addition to plans to begin fundraising in the fall. The release states that they will know if they’ve been approved for the grant funds in October. Anyone who would like to contribute to this phase of the project is asked to contact plywoodtrail@gmail.com .

Construction on the Phase 3 trail from Sioux City to Hinton began on July 22 and will continue through 2025 due to the scale of the project, according to the release. The community may begin to see work on a pedestrian bridge in September 2024.

The trails do not allow for motorized vehicles, per Iowa Code Chapter 318.

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