Perry’s soccer complex project continues to move forward, after the City secured a Resource Enhancement and Protection, or REAP, grant.

City Administrator Butch Niebuhr says REAP invests in projects that enhance and protect Iowa’s natural and cultural resources, with 15% of funds being set aside to help establish natural areas, encourage outdoor recreation and resource management.

Perry plans to use the $100,000 grant to create a pond and trail system adjacent to the future soccer complex in Pattee Park.

Niebuhr says now that the grant is secured, they hope to keep the ball rolling this fall by getting the plans together and hopefully going out for bid, with an ideal completion date of spring 2015.

The buffer that this money will be used to create will detain and treat storm water prior to entering the wetland and will also include a trail for exercise and recreation.

In total, the project is expected to cost around $600,000 and Niebuhr says the hope is to get additional grant monies and donations from various sources to complete it.