Recreation

Many people use shopping and eating as recreation. Humans also need to move their bodies, see other people, see green, and engage with the natural environment. Creating Great Places (CGP) promotes recreational options that are unique to each place and its social and natural environment.

 

Regional Trails

Pulling an extension of the Raccoon River Valley Trail 17 miles to Coon Rapids, along the route of the American Discovery Trail, will be a major focus for CGP in the coming years. The proposed name for the new link is the “Khrushchev in Iowa” Trail. In 2009, with the help of CGP, the Guthrie County Conservation Board was awarded a $365,000 State Transportation Enhancement Grant to begin to secure right of way for the trail to Herndon. Click here to learn more. 

 

Trail Fundraising To-date

CGP is at the lead of promoting trail development in and around Coon Rapids. To-date, we have raised $1.7 million for the “Garst Farm Trail” loop linking the northern portions of Whiterock with the Coon Rapids business district; built the $120,000 Stagecoach Prairie Trail linking the Aquatic Center Park and the school with northern portions of Coon Rapids; and in 2008 we secured a $380,000 federal earmark to allow Whiterock to develop its internal system of sustainable dirt trails that will serve mountain bikers and equestrians. Click here to learn more.

 

Coon Rapids Visitor Guide

People used to think we had nothing to do in Coon Rapids, until we wrote it all down! This annual guide has an excellent community history, lists local businesses (especially local products) and annual events. We also list recreational options, ranging from shooting clay pigeons, to having a local photographer take outdoor shots at the locale of your choice, to visiting a stained glass artisan, to bird watching. To order Visitor Guides for your family or for a class reunion, click here. CGP is also a member of Western Iowa Tourism. To learn more, go to http://www.visitwesterniowa.com/

 

Proposed Railroad Park

CGP is taking the lead on developing a new “Railroad Park” right along the main 5th Avenue entry, just south of the railroad tracks. This lot is also right in front of the historic Armour Poultry Plant CGP hopes to eventually restore and develop as an artisan and retail center. Mary Garst owns this lot, and has agreed to donate it for the purposes of it being developed as a park. The next steps will be to gather community input into design and raise the needed funds for a retaining wall, benches, signage and other amenities.

 

Roadside Sculpture Garden

At Roadside Park, CGP is working with the local development group to establish a sculpture garden right along Highway 141. Initial pieces were made by Ian Carter, Doug Carpenter, Allen Bukoff, Jacob Evans (grandson of Earl Lee Phelps) and Dennis Wurr. Contact Doug Carpenter (dpcarp@crmu.net) if you wish to become involved in creating or donating outdoor art for this park.