Northwest Iowa — A regional recreational trail system spanning more than one-hundred miles in northwestern Iowa will connect several towns, including Sergeant Bluff, Sioux City, Merrill, Hinton and Le Mars. Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president Chris McGowan says linking the communities is a strategy to overcome the area’s labor shortages.
Sioux City is one of the largest towns in the state without a trail connection to another city. It’s estimated it could double the number of visitors the trails see within five years of the project’s completion. Sioux City Parks and Recreation Director Matt Salvatore says the regional trail system will be a real game-changer for the area.
The project is made possible by a seven-million dollar grant awarded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. As part of the grant, the project must be completed by 2026.
