(Atlantic) The City of Atlantic continues to work on its comprehensive plan, and Nishna Valley Trails President Dave Chase and his group were invited to provide input on trails, recreational, pedestrian, and bicycling opportunities in Atlantic. Chase says their organization’s goals are similar to those drafted in 2007, 2015, and 2022.
Chase says many of these connections are complete and need to be promoted. In cooperation with the Park and Rec Advisory Commission, we want to get some leverage into the City’s comprehensive plan regarding bike trail usage and bike ability in Atlantic, Iowa. The first draft of the comprehensive plan has those items in it. Chase says the short-term goal is connecting trails to the Atlantic Park System.
Dave Chase says these initiatives were accomplished by the efforts of many people led by Nishna Valley Trails and Atlantic Municipal Utilities, and no city money was involved with those projects. Chase says various grants are available to improve and enhance those connections.
Dave Chase says many of these things in the short term are low-cost bike lanes and way-finding signs, including connecting East Ridge Park on 22nd Street to the trail that will be developed in the new Camblin Hills Housing Addition.
Dave Chase says the goal is to connect the T-Bone Trail to Atlantic. Nishna Valley Trails wants to make Atlantic a destination for the T-Bone and the Great American Rail Trail, which covers 3,700 miles through 12 states, including Iowa. The T-Bone Trail is on that route. Meanwhile, Iowa is home to 2,000 miles of multi-use trails. I’ll discuss the economic impact of multi-use trails with Dave Chase on Wednesday.
