Work continues on the Raccoon River Valley Trail between Adel and Redfield, and the public is reminded that there may be sections they can’t cross.

The overlay and bridge repair projects are expected to take at least through midsummer, according to Dallas County Conservation Director Mike Wallace. Luckily, with the annual BACooN Ride rescheduled to August 1st, Wallace says it looks like the maintenance will be wrapped up just in time for the event. However, he points out that disruptions to daily trail traffic should be expected for all users. The contractors are working with the county to minimize the duration of trail closures, with ample notification along the trail, but there are no defined detour routes for any of the segments affected.

Wallace admits the maintenance on the 10-mile stretch may be inconvenient over the summer, but emphasizes that it is necessary in order to keep the quality of the trail at a high level. Anyone with questions is encouraged to reach out to Dallas County Conservation by calling Forest Park Museum at 515-465-3577.