Hiking, Biking, and Water Trail Milestones from Envision 2010

Tri-State Trail Vision, as an organization, emerged from the Envision 2010 Project in 2006. An integrated trail system was listed as one of the top ten priorities for the next twenty years. Looking back on our history, the city, county, area towns, ECIA, and we have accomplished much. After reviewing minutes and newsletters, here are a few highlights:

2005 - Envision 2010 occurs with an integrated trail system as a top ten priority

2006 - Tri-State Trail Vision organizes in accordance with Envision 2010

2007 – TSTV achieves non-profit status

2008 – Bike-Hike Event at the Grand River Center with Trek speakers, Dubuque mayor, and presentation of the

Tri-State Area Integrated Walking, Bicycling and Hiking Network Plan created by DMATS, ECIA, and local engineers (with periodic input from TSTV), and adopted by city and county

2009 -ECIA Transportation Specialist Candace Eudaley launches Tri-State Trail Vision website and blog

-TSTV Fundraising concert with Big Blue Sky held at Mindframe Theater

2010 –Bike to Work Week organized by Candace Eudaley, Michael Loebach, and Officer Joe Messerich, which included a bike giveaway and promotional items. A bike rodeo was held for school children.

- Middle Fork Catfish Creek Trail Study completed

2011–Bee Branch Detention Basin northside trail opens

-Biking amenities in the new Central Avenue Parking Ramp

-Complete Streets Policy adopted by city

-Safe Routes to School/Walking School Buses begin

2012 -TSTV Newsletter begins with Dianne Koch as editor

-Bike racks installed on city buses and the city creates a video on how to use them

-TSTV Strategic Planning with Art Roche

-Bike-Friendly Community Honorable Mention from People for Bikes, thanks to the efforts of Free Flight owner Brian Walsh; City Planner Laura Carstens, who directed the city staff; and ECIA’s Dan Fox

-Water Trail from A.Y. McDonald Park to Massey established

-Bike Coop opens

-Heritage Trail celebrates 30 years

2013 -Heritage Trail/Highway 52 and 3 Overpass Bridge open

-Community Planning Assistance Team Report (CPAT) released on Heritage Trail

-State Tree Woodland Walk ADA Trail at E. B. Lyons opens

-John Deere Marsh Trail opens

-County Health Department supplies bike racks to Dubuque and area towns

2014 - TSTV Endowment with the Community Foundation begins thanks to generous donors

-Bike Coop moves to Central Avenue

2015 – Construction begins on the Upper Bee Branch Trail

– Highway 52 paved bike lanes from Dubuque to Bellevue

– Creation of Tri-State Mountain Bike Riders (TMBR)

- NW Arterial Trail from Holliday Drive to Pennsylvania completed

2016

– Key West Bike Lanes completed

- South John Deere Road Heritage Trail parking lot completed

- NW Arterial Trail from Pennsylvania to Chavenelle completed

2017 – Bee Branch Greenway opens from Garfield to 24th Street

– Bee Branch Extension to the Heritage Trail Pond

– Cloie Creek Mountain Bike Trail opens

– Iowa Bicycle Coalition designates Dubuque County Bike Route 1 (Dbq, Balltown, Dyersville)

2018 – Urban Bicycling Food Mission starts

-Interstate Power Preserve Mountain Bike Trails completed

2019 – Proving Grounds Recreation Area opens for hiking

2020 -Proving Grounds open for mountain biking

– West Chavenelle Trail (Seippel Rd to Bergfeld pond to Radford) opens

2021 - County Parks Masterplan completed

– Land and Water Legacy Bond Fundraiser (Bob Dorr Concert) at Swiss Valley to support county parks a success

-Bond Referendum fails by a slim margin

2022 – Bee Branch Railroad Tunnel at Garfield St. opens

– Asbury Althaus Trail connects to Forest Hills subdivision

– East Chavenelle Trail (from Radford to NW Arterial) opens

– Kayak ramp at Massey Station Park built

2023 – Dubuque Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan completed by Laura Carstens, Dan Fox, and city staff

– Detention Basin Solar Panel Trail (12th St. to Sycamore Street) opens

- West John Deere Road Trail opens

- Kayak access built at Bowstring Park near Bernard

2024 – Bike Lanes on 9th and 10th Street open

- 16th St. Bridge to Veteran’s Memorial Plaza trail segment opens

- TSTV launched a new website TriStateTrailVision.org and a Tri-State Trail Vision Dubuque Facebook page

2025 – Connector from West John Deere Road to Heritage Trail completed

-Dubuque and Asbury Park Boards are updating park masterplans

Thanks to the hard work of all the Tri-State Trail Vision Board Members and past presidents: Brian Walsh, Tony Zelinskas, Charlie Winterwood, and Ron Bensink. Other regular board members are Pat Prevenas, Art Roche, Jim Gonyier, Dianne Koch, Jennifer Hanniford, Lori Ollendick, Rob Williams, Candace Eudaley, Michael Loeobach, Jim Geisen, Judy Geisen, Chris Fry, Brian Walsh, Parrish Marugg, and Dave Hartig.