The Raccoon River Valley Trail has been popular for several years now, especially after the official opening of the north loop last summer but improvements to the nation’s longest paved loop trail are not stopping any time soon.

This past weekend’s inaugural BACooN Ride donated $5,000 to the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association to pave one of the gravel road crossings in Dallas County.  Plans are to have all crossings in the county completed before the end of the year.

The Dallas County Conservation Board has also hired engineering firm Snyder and Associates to look into identifying the proper route for a 9 mile connector between the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the High Trestle Trail in Woodward.

Conservation Director Mike Wallace is also looking into grant monies to complete the project, which the trail association says is estimated at about $5 million.