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Iowa is taking steps to connect to the rest of the country, as the Pottawattamie County board of conservation plans to build a trail between Weston and Underwood. It’s all part of the Great American Rail Trail.”Ride from Neola to Underwood and get ice cream and then come back? That’s something I can totally see myself doing on a summer evening,” said Connie Casson.Casson is a member of the Pottawattamie County Trails Association and an avid cyclist. The ride will be even easier for her once the trail is in place.”We’re filling in the gaps from town to town, and in 2026, we hope to connect Council Bluffs to Weston and then head north to Underwood,” Casson said.The 5-mile stretch will connect Iowa to both coasts, starting in Washington, D.C., and ending in the Pacific Northwest. The Great American Rail Trail is not finished, but individual states are making efforts to complete it, including Nebraska.”This is a huge opportunity for our entire region out here, certainly for Pottawattamie County, as well,” Jeff Franco, executive director of the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board, said. “Very proud to be a part of this.””We don’t have oceans, we don’t have mountains, we don’t have those things, but we have a lot of beauty,” Joe Munch, chair of the Pottawattamie County Trails Association, said. “We have a lot of unique things that people would be able to experience using this trail.”Franco said he already has funding from the state, but the project needs more. He brought this idea to the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency to ask for another $500,000.”We’re doing very well with our fundraising,” Franco said. “There’s a little bit more to do, but some big grants coming our way, especially support from MAPA, as well.”The money will be used to make the trail safer. It will pay for railings and let the county pave the path away from the road.”Not only for the individual’s safety, but also motorists to get those obstacles off the road. One less hazard for them to be distracted by,” Munch said.The organizations also that in addition to getting people outside, the trail brings in tourists and travelers.”You can get so many experiences in Omaha, so many in Council Bluffs, but really go to these small towns,” Franco said. “You get kind of the unique feel and flavor for these towns that, we think, will bring some economic benefit, as well.”The trail will connect to Council Bluffs near Smith Wildlife Refuge on Railroad Highway, go through the city and eventually cross the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge into Omaha.Franco said the trail might not be done for at least two years while the teams fundraise and eventually start construction. The Pottawattamie County Trails Association is taking donations. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Iowa is taking steps to connect to the rest of the country, as the Pottawattamie County board of conservation plans to build a trail between Weston and Underwood. It’s all part of the Great American Rail Trail.
“Ride from Neola to Underwood and get ice cream and then come back? That’s something I can totally see myself doing on a summer evening,” said Connie Casson.
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Casson is a member of the Pottawattamie County Trails Association and an avid cyclist. The ride will be even easier for her once the trail is in place.
“We’re filling in the gaps from town to town, and in 2026, we hope to connect Council Bluffs to Weston and then head north to Underwood,” Casson said.
The 5-mile stretch will connect Iowa to both coasts, starting in Washington, D.C., and ending in the Pacific Northwest. The Great American Rail Trail is not finished, but individual states are making efforts to complete it, including Nebraska.
“This is a huge opportunity for our entire region out here, certainly for Pottawattamie County, as well,” Jeff Franco, executive director of the Pottawattamie County Conservation Board, said. “Very proud to be a part of this.”
“We don’t have oceans, we don’t have mountains, we don’t have those things, but we have a lot of beauty,” Joe Munch, chair of the Pottawattamie County Trails Association, said. “We have a lot of unique things that people would be able to experience using this trail.”
Franco said he already has funding from the state, but the project needs more. He brought this idea to the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency to ask for another $500,000.
“We’re doing very well with our fundraising,” Franco said. “There’s a little bit more to do, but some big grants coming our way, especially support from MAPA, as well.”
The money will be used to make the trail safer. It will pay for railings and let the county pave the path away from the road.
“Not only for the individual’s safety, but also motorists to get those obstacles off the road. One less hazard for them to be distracted by,” Munch said.
The organizations also that in addition to getting people outside, the trail brings in tourists and travelers.
“You can get so many experiences in Omaha, so many in Council Bluffs, but really go to these small towns,” Franco said. “You get kind of the unique feel and flavor for these towns that, we think, will bring some economic benefit, as well.”
The trail will connect to Council Bluffs near Smith Wildlife Refuge on Railroad Highway, go through the city and eventually cross the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge into Omaha.
Franco said the trail might not be done for at least two years while the teams fundraise and eventually start construction. The Pottawattamie County Trails Association is taking donations.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
