Waukee Trailhead Project Nearing Completion

Waukee Railroad Pergola – “In The Shadow Of The Rails” Raccoon River Valley Trail – Public Art Initiative Update

Have you been to the Waukee Trailhead of the Raccoon River Valley Trail recently?  The public art project made possible through your support is nearing completion and the results are amazing! The installation looks remarkably like the artist’s drawings, but is even more impressive now that the scale, colors and artistic detail can be seen and experienced. This project has truly established a culturally unique gateway and identity for the Raccoon River Valley Trail corridor. 

Final work which needs to be completed includes installing the solar and shade panels over the plaza, wiring for the LED lighting and landscaping details. This work is in progress and will be finished soon. A grand opening and ribbon cutting event will be held in the spring. We will be notifying you of that date and look forward to having you there to help celebrate this great achievement.

As the Waukee project nears completion, efforts are now focused on bringing elements of the “In The Shadow Of The Rails” theme to the other RRVT Communities.  Support is strong and growing for the completion of public art structures along the entire trail corridor. Six additional projects that replicate the Waukee design are now in progress and planned for completion in 2018. These include installations at Dallas Center, Minburn, Perry, Cooper, Winkleman Switch (the trailhead north of Cooper) and Jefferson. A third phase is also now ramping up to bring the public art initiative to the communities located along the trail’s western route. When complete this initiative will have established one of the nation’s longest linear public art installations; creating national level recognition and identity for the RRVT corridor and the central Iowa region. 

Thank you for your past and continuing support as we work to raise funds for completion of this exciting vision for the Raccoon River Valley Trail corridor.   

If you have any questions or would like additional information please let us know by replying to this email or contact.

–  Jim Miller, RRVT Public Art Project Committee Chair