REINBECK – With great excitement the Pioneer Trail will soon be coming to Reinbeck.

Throughout the last couple of years, a lot of effort has been put into this announcement by the Grundy County Conservation Board and the Grundy County Heritage Foundation. 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the Pioneer Trail. As exciting as it is to see that the Pioneer Trail has been providing outdoor recreation to the area residents for nearly 40 years, it is not super exciting knowing that it has been 40 years attempting to bring the Pioneer Trail to Reinbeck.

In 2022 the Grundy County Conservation Board and the Grundy County Heritage Foundation hired Clapsaddle and Garber as an engineering firm to develop routes to close both gaps in the Pioneer Trail. Following the results, the Conservation Board decided to focus on the Reinbeck trail gap first. To close the gap, the Pioneer Trail will utilize Hwy 175 right of way to connect the existing Pioneer Trail at Gutknecht Roadside Park to Reinbeck’s city park on the west side of town. A hard surface trail will be placed on the back slope of Hwy 175 allowing trail users to travel from Reinbeck to near Grundy Center in a safe way.

Safety will be of the highest priority; rapid flashing beacon signs will be placed at the crossing of Hwy 175 to alert motorists of crossing trail users. Both Boards are confident and excited with the planned route and look forward to seeing Reinbeck connected to the Pioneer Trail safely.

Following the completion of the preliminary plans and surveying, the Conservation Board received an estimate for the project of $1,126,000. Utilizing INRCOG the Conservation Board kept pushing hard to establish the funding necessary to see the Pioneer Trail reach Reinbeck.

Since late 2023 a lot of effort has been put towards writing grants to establish the funding needed. From late 2023 through the assistance of Kyle Durant (INRCOG) we have been very blessed to have received $813,786 through different grants (TAP, State Trails, and CAT grant). Through contributions from the Grundy County Board of Supervisors, the City of Reinbeck, and private donations we are down to just a $100,000 funding gap for the project.

Any assistance towards this project can be made through the Grundy County Conservation Office (office hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or by phone at 319-345-2688.

Donations should be payable to the Grundy County Heritage Foundation at 204 4th Street, Morrison, IA 50657.