Veterans Affairs - Have You Heard

Cyclists enjoy the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail near Huxley's Trailridge Park. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

By Ryan Wiemold, Parks Superintendent

Story County has many parks, natural areas and trails throughout the county that greatly enhance quality of life, wellness and recreational opportunities. Recent successes in land acquisition, funding and the extension and paving of miles of trails led Story County Conservation (SCC) to seek an updated trails plan for future trail priorities and improvements. 

This new Story County Trails Master Plan (2025) builds upon previous trail planning efforts and is written with actionable steps. The plan includes user priorities shared with us at various public input meetings, and identifies opportunities for new trail connections within Story County and regionally. The community outreach process had an impact in every step of the creation of the Story County Trails Master Plan, including identifying missing links, desired amenities and criteria used to prioritize upcoming projects. 

SCC and local communities are already celebrating one of the top priorities of the plan, paving the Heart of Iowa Nature Trail. SCC, its partners, communities and users recently celebrated a ribbon cutting and trail celebration event which had about 300 registered riders! The trail has recently been paved over 21 miles across the county and SCC is actively paving through Collins and working towards the Story-Marshall County line in the near future. 

A second priority project starting off is R38 Trail Alternative analysis, one of the projects identified as part of the Story County Water & Land Legacy Bond, passed in 2024. On-road bike lanes currently connect Ames to Slater along County Road R38, although this stretch is of great concern to users due to the speed and volume of vehicle traffic. The public identified seeking an improved solution as a high priority during the public input process. SCC is now working with consultants to explore alternative routes and path options to better connect this route with an off-road trail.

View full Trails Master Plan document here.