(Atlantic, Iowa) – Nishna Valley Trails President Dave Chase, Wednesday afternoon, addressed the Atlantic Parks and Rec Advisory Commission, with regard to the role trails play in the City’s of Atlantic’s 5-year Comprehensive Plan, and a proposal to connect the trails both inside of Atlantic and with the Trailhead near Interstate 80 and Highway 71.

Bike routes, lanes and connections are included in the Preliminary Comprehensive Plan, Chase said. The non-profit Nishna Valley Trails group helped to obtain a $100,000 grant for the bridge that crosses the Nishnabotna River just west of KJAN, and connects to the Schildberg Recreation Area. The City sponsored that grant application. Chase said it’s also possible to get a REAP grant for the hard surfacing or resurfacing some of the current connections and constructing others.

The big plan, has always been to connect the T-Bone Trail to Atlantic, Chase said, as part of the Great American Rail Trail.

Connecting the T-Bone Trail to Atlantic is something NishnaValley Trails is working to have accomplished in the next three-years. Chase said an Iowa Bicycle Coalition Study determined cycling has a $1.4-billion dollar economic impact on the State.

He says signage is another aspect of the trail.

He said connecting East Ridge Park in Atlantic to the Camblin Hills Addition is another idea he has. Officials hope to apply for a REAP grant in the next grant cycle.

The next Iowa Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) grant cycle for the FY 2026 regular grant cycle is May 1, 2025, so it’s too late to apply for it. Projects funded in this cycle will begin on July 1, 2025, and must be completed by November 30, 2027, with final reports due by December 31, 2027