Photo Courtesy of Dallas County Conservation Board

Those looking to get their steps in yet this winter can check out new signs along the Raccoon River Valley Trail in Adel and Perry.

The Dallas County Conservation Board has partnered with a local Girl Scout, Adriana Jimenez, for a project along the RRVT. Director Curt Cable says Jimenez brought the idea for the trail project to the conservation board in 2021. 

He adds that Jimenez, with Girl Scout Troop 468 and a Waukee High School senior, initially helped install signs along the RRVT in Dallas Center as part of her Silver project. Jimenez recently expanded the project to include signs along the RRVT in Adel and Perry for her Gold project

The 10,000 Steps to Wellness project features six signs that measure in 1,000 step increments. At the sixth sign, 5,000 steps, residents are encouraged to turn around and walk back to the starting sign near the trailhead. 

Cable says the project is a way to encourage residents to get out and enjoy the trails all year long.

“Especially this time of year. New Year’s came and people, with their New Year’s resolutions, maybe they’re wanting to be healthier. And one of the big things that you can do is just walk, there’s very little barrier to entry with something like that. You just need a pair of shoes and maybe a coat and a hat this time of year. But it’s something anybody can do. And these signs that she has put out have maybe set a goal for somebody. Maybe they’re not able to do the full 10,000 steps, but maybe they can do 2,000 of the steps.”

Cable adds that additional signs will be installed along a trail near Forest Park Museum outside of Perry.