T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY Terry Briggs of Marshalltown, far left, president of TRAILS, Inc., speaks before a group of local elected officials, business representatives and a host of Iowa River Trail supporters at Friday’s Bike to Work Day. A steady rain and cold temperatures required event organizers to gather inside a Trails, Inc. building on Wilson Circle. Briggs and Kim Schryver also of TRAILS, Inc., briefed the group on construction progress of the Marshall County portion of the 34-mile recreational trial which, when completed, will connect Marshalltown with Steamboat Rock.

Four years and $4 million dollars.

That is the time and capital raised by TRAILS, Inc. a Marshall County group of volunteers working in tandem with Iowa River Trail/Hardin County to construct a 34-mile Iowa River recreational trail from Marshalltown to Steamboat Rock.

TRAILS President Terry Briggs and Kim Schryver, also of TRAILS, Inc., and both local residents, briefed a large group of local elected officials, state agency representatives, and bicyclists Friday morning on IRT status.

Fittingly, the setting was in a TRAILS, Inc.-owned building at the Ann C. Keyser Trailhead on Wilson Circle in Marshalltown.

The theme of their remarks was that a lot of work has been done over the last four years, but much, much more will be required to finish the group’s goal of constructing a 10-foot wide, hard-surfaced trail to Albion by 2020.

TRAILS, Inc. will be responsible for trail construction and maintenance from Marshalltown to the Marshall County/Hardin County line.

IRT/HC is responsible for trail construction and maintenance from the Hardin County/Marshall County line to Steamboat Rock.

Briggs and Schryver said Phase I of what is called the “Town to Country” segment of construction within Marshalltown city limits, has been fully funded at $300,000 with an estimated completion date of December 2017.

Phase II — “The Bridges” — has also been fully funded at $900,000. The construction target is December, 2018.

Phase II — “To the River” will cost $1.6 million, with construction target December, 2019.

Phase IV — “To Albion” will cost $700,000 with construction target December, 2020.

Briggs and Schryver were effusive in their praise of numerous partners who have helped the not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.

They cited supporters ranging from the Marshalltown City Council to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to local foundations — Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation and Ann C. Keyser Foundation.

“Impressive to me personally, is the amount of private and corporate donations we have received from Marshalltonians and county residents,” said Briggs. “We have received donations as small as $10 to larger of $100,000. Regardless of the amount, it is all appreciated … we have support county-wide for this effort and we are going to continue raising money in earnest.”

Schryver was equally enthusiastic.

“The trail will be ideal for activities ranging from biking to sightseeing to fishing,” she said.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/TrailsInc or Trailsinc.net.