Dig In Details

The Central Iowa Trail Association and Polk County Conservation are working together to create integrated trails and green spaces that will serve as recreation and conservation areas for the entire community. The $10,000 raised through the Dig In grant will help fund Phase 1 of the project and support additional grants the county has applied for to begin construction.

Like many areas in the country, trail usage in Polk County Conservation areas increased by over 40% in 2020. This growth created crowded trailheads and an obvious need for more singletrack trails, especially those that connect off paved trails. The Copper Creek Mountain Bike Trail will serve the city of Pleasant Hill, the city of Des Moines, and Polk County residents who visit from nearby. This trail system will provide recreation for every level of rider and activities for a variety of users. The acreage is surrounded by neighborhoods and connects via a paved trail to a shopping area, providing easy access for the community. The Iowa State Fairgrounds, pulling in thousands of visitors each year in August, is also nearby.

The goal for the Central Iowa Trail Association and Polk County Conservation is to provide more public space for recreation to residents in the county. Iowa ranks near the bottom of all 50 states in terms of the amount of recreation land it offers to the public. This area will provide a space for the community to escape to nature, all within a few miles of the heart of Des Moines. Not only does this area provide outdoor recreation for a community that has little green space, but it will serve as a large conservation education area with rain gardens, timber stand improvement areas, invasive species removal, interpretive conservation signs, and wetlands to assist with water drainage.

By combining conservation and recreation, Copper Creek Trails will truly speak to Polk County Conservation’s mission of providing quality outdoor recreation and long term protection of green spaces for the citizens of Polk County.