Friday afternoon, members of the Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce and the Adel community gathered at the Pedal Plaza trailhead of the Raccoon River Valley Trail, where they kicked off the Kinnick to Raccoon trail improvement project.

The Chamber hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking and transitioned it into actual groundbreaking to start the landscaping aspect of the project. Chamber Board Vice President and Kinnick to Raccoon committee chairperson Rebecca Hillmer talked about the project, which includes multiple phases of improvements along the trail between Highway 169 and the Raccoon River. She mentioned that the committee has managed to raise over $95,000 of the $125,000 needed for the project, adding that many of those with shovels in their hands at the groundbreaking were large patrons.

Adel Mayor Jim Peters then spoke, talking about what the trail means to the City, and how the beautification of the area will only increase its impact. Dallas County Conservation Director Mike Wallace also gave his input, saying he’s excited that the City took the initiative to get the project off the ground. After the ceremony, volunteers got to work digging holes and planting trees along the four blocks between the river and highway. Later phases of the project include lighting the bridge and the bridge approach, and placing artwork in the “Shadow of the Rails” theme at the trailhead.