(Spirit Lake)– Dickinson county’s recreational trail system could be in for a major expansion.
Steve Litts of Dickinson County Trails told the Spirit Lake city council Tuesday they’re negotiating with John Larkin, owner of the Iowa Northwestern Railroad, to purchase it’s right-of-way.
Litts told the council it’s his understanding the railroad has filed to abandon the trackage between Lake Park and Spirit Lake and between Spirit Lake and just west of Superior.
Litts says they have until April to work out some sort of agreement with the railroad.
Litts says it would be through the federal goverment’s Rails To Trails program, which would allow a railroad to buy back the right-of-way to reinstall tracks at a later time if they so wish.
It’s been two years since any trains have run on the line.
Rails and ties have already been removed from Allendorf to east of Lake Park.
