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Keokuk, IA – Improving and developing hiking and biking trails is part of the Keokuk Area Vision with Action Plan and the Keokuk Riverfront Master Plan.
The city's riverfront committee is working with Shoemaker-Haaland on a trail system master plan. The cost to the city is $1.
The committee held a pair of meetings, Tuesday April 13, to gather public input on the plan.
Parks and Trails Sub-Committee Co-Chairman Bruce Dunek says a strong, diverse trail system will help make Keokuk even more of a destination city. He says the system would encourage residents and tourists to explore the entire community.
Dunek says Keokuk's current trail system is beautiful for bicycle riders. He says there is some signage, but more organization is needed.
Dunek says the trail master plan is about 80% done. He says public input is needed to develop three priority routes to explore.
Dunek says the priority routes will be designed so funding can be sought this fall. He says there is money available for worthy, well-designed trail projects.
Dunek says his own top three would include a 26 mile loop that runs along the bypass to Airport Road, a walking trail to Rand Park, and a paved trail around Rand Park. He says others under consideration are a path connecting Keokuk's schools and a route from Keokuk High School to Joyce and McCreadie Parks.
Dunek says the Parks and Trails Sub-Committee hopes to present a finalized plan to the Keokuk City Council next month. He says the city will have to adopt it as a formal transportation document.
More information is available here.