(Wahpeton)– The Dickinson County Trails Association has been awarded a sizable grant to extend trails along the west side of West Lake Okoboji.
Representatives of the association were informed Wednesday they’ve been awarded 192-thousand dollars in funding through a federal program known as “T-21”. The program is administered locally by the Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission.
Wahpeton Mayor Mike McDonough joined representatives of the Dickinson County Trails Association at the meeting. He says they were thrilled when they learned they were awarded all of the funding they had requested.
The Trails Association and city of Wahpeton will provide local match for the funding.
Three other communities were vying for the funding, including Spencer, Storm Lake and Rock Rapids.
The Trails Association has been working for years to get a trail along the west side of West Lake Okoboji, siting safety concerns. Currently, most bikers, joggers and walkers are forced to use the shoulders of Highway 86.
