Trail story culminates Friday with ribbon cutting

An NSP history of trail development

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Join the celebration 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at First and Iowa streets when Eldridge officially opens its $1.3 million trail extension.

The grand opening culminates years of dreams, and about four years of city council work to dedicate property tax and grant dollars that transformed an abandoned railroad corridor into a two-mile park.

Jan. 8, 2020 NSP: Valley Construction wins contract

Valley Construction’s $1.2 million bid was the best among six to build Eldridge’s South First Street trail over an abandoned rail bed this year.

Eldridge council members Monday approved the bid in a 5-0 vote that included new council member Bruce Cheek. He was elected to fill a spot  vacated by Steve Puls, who did not seek reelection.

The two-mile trail from Iowa Street south to Blackhawk Trail was expected to cost about $1.45 million, according to estimates presented to the council in 2018. The cost will be covered by grants and property tax increment financing from Eldridge’s urban renewal area, which includes the trail.

Valley won with a $1,222,221 bid. The next lowest was McCarthy Improvement Co., at $1.29 million. Highest of the six was Brandt Construction at $1.72 million.

Last February, the council awarded Shive Hattery a $124,500 contract to design the path over Canadian Pacific rail beds.

Aug. 14, 2019 NSP:  More federal funding for trail expansion

Eldridge will welcome another $732,000 in federal grant trail money to extend the LeClaire Road trail east to Scott Park Road, and create a new public trail through the city’s Townsend Farms additions.

Those grants announced this week bring to $2.18 million the amount of federal funding finalized this year for trails through Eldridge and Long Grove.

“That’s a whole lot of federal money,” Eldridge mayor Marty O’Boyle told The NSP.

The grants follow years of planning and applications through Bi-State Regional Commission for the federal transportation dollars reserved for trails and other alternatives to cars.

Bi-State senior planner Bryan Schmid works with Scott County communities on trail development. He told The NSP of another $2.1 million in federal grants to Davenport that will bring the North

Scott area closer to hooking up with the Davenport network.

Davenport’s funding includes $1.13 million that came through this year to extend Davenport’s Goose Creek Trail north from 53rd Street, and ultimately, beneath U.S. 61. That’s the link that one day would reach Mount Joy and the Eldridge system, he said.

Another $531,000 in federal funding from 2017 will cover a trail along a Brady Street frontage road from 59th Street north to Veterans Memorial Parkway in Davenport.

On the west side of Davenport, the city won a $522,770 grant to begin connecting the Duck Creek path from Emeis Park to Wisconsin Avenue. Longer term plans will bring that trail south through Davenport’s Sunderbruch Park to reach the Mississippi River trail system.

Add in local taxpayers’ typical 20 percent cost share, and the grants and Scott County residents will see at least $5.5 million of trail work in the next four years.

Much more remains.

“I-80 represents the biggest barrier,” said Schmid, the Bi-State planner. “It may boil down to opportunity if one arises to get either over or under I-80. That’s a long-term goal, and both Davenport, Eldridge and all of our local bicycle advocates recognize that need.”

Mayor O’Boyle said careful coordination of grants among Scott County towns have made the trail build out more collaborative and less competitive.

“I-80 is a big impediment. We can’t get over it. To get under it, we’ll have to follow railroad tracks under Interstate 80 by the Deere properties. Hopefully the county, city of Davenport and us can work with Canadian Pacific to run a trail parallel to that track,” he said.

Dec. 23, 2015 NSP: City acquires railroad property

Eldridge residents will soon have access to an additional two miles of recreational trails.

Council members on Monday approved a purchase agreement with the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad Corporation for acquisition of nearly two miles of railroad right-of-way, which the city will convert to a recreational trail.

“The city of Eldridge wishes to encourage healthy living and expand recreational opportunities for its citizens,” Mayor Marty O’Boyle said.

The city will pay $121,000 to the railroad for a total of 23.58 acres – or approximately $5,131 per acre – running from East Iowa Street to the south side of East Blackhawk Trail. The property is about 100 feet wide, O’Boyle said.

The city will pay for the purchase with money from its sales tax fund.

The price includes a $15,000 advance deposit to the railroad to help cover legal costs and other property transfer expenses they may incur. In return, the railroad has agreed to clean up all railroad ties, remove tracks, and process all of the rail banking.

Once completed, residents will have access to nearly seven miles of improved trails, including paths along First Street and LeClaire Road.

“This has been a priority of the city’s for many years. We have periodically contacted the railroad to see if they would sell it to us so we could extend the trail,” city administrator John Dowd said.

Dowd said the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad Corp agreed to sell the property to the city in early July.

“Through the abandonment process they agreed to convert from rail transportation to recreational trail. In essence, it converts from one form of transportation to another. For the most part, the purchase offer is good to go. When we submit this to the railroad board, they will begin the process of discontinuing rail service,” he said.

“I’ve got to commend John (Dowd) our city engineer Myron Scheibe, and our attorney (Tom Schirman), who invested an awful lot of work in this,” O’Boyle added.

“It was within the grasp of our hands for some time, but it got pulled back when Canadian Pacific was restructuring their board and their policies. It put us in a good very good position by being persistent.”

Council members agreed the new trail will be a nice addition for the city.

“I think it’s really nice for the city to finally get to this point,” council member Bernie Peeters said.

“We have a unique opportunity to clean it up and make it park-like. The rail system hasn’t done much maintenance. This is something that will be real nice for our community. I’m excited about it,” added council member Steve Puls.

“This will be a nice community volunteer project so everybody can take pride in the parkway. It’s going to be a beautiful ride back there,” O’Boyle said.

trail, eldridge, dave griffin, Betty Griffin, council

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