Click here for frequently asked questions about trail policies.

Dec 10, 2009...B Street sidewalk
The sidewalk along B Street is being extended north from the Waterworks Park Entrance. See photos here.

Nov 15, 2009...Gazebo on Pleasant Lake
Repair work being done on old cedar shingles and flashing by Duncan MacMaster, Brian Robbins, and Livia Papp. The Gazebo is located at southwest corner of parking lot at Pleasant Lake (Reservoir #2). It formerly was located on a pond at the then-MIU campus. The university donated it to the Lakes/Beach committee and Trails Council, who arranged to have it moved and repaired.   Photos here.

Nov 13, 2009...Whitham Woods construction
Another Loop Trail section is under construction.  Click here for photos.

Nov 08, 2009...Matkin Bridge trail completed
The trail connections to the bridge are open (no mud).  Click here for photos.

Oct 25, 2009...Matkin Bridge Inauguration
Click here to see a photo essay of the inauguration.

Sept 04, 2009...Bridge construction started
Construction of the piers for the Matkin Memorial Bridge over Hwy 1 North has begun. UPDATE 10/18/09: The bridge is in place and the approaches are built. See photos here.

Aug 22, 2009...Iowa DOT Trail inauguration
The Iowa DOT Trail section of the Loop Trail was inaugurated on Aug 22, 2009. Speakers emphasized the theme of Health & Wellness for the community. See full story on the IOWA DOT Trail page.

May 28, 2009...Iowa DOT Trail Update
The opening of the Iowa DOT Trail has been delayed. See the full story on the IOWA DOT Trail page.

October 25, 2008...Neff Wetlands Dike & Trail repaired
The flood in Spring 2008 damaged the Neff Wetlands dike and trail. More flooding came in September. Permanent repairs were made in October. Photos here.

October 23, 2008...B Street Walkway/Bikeway completed
A 10-foot wide concrete sidewalk/bikeway was completed along B Street. It connects Stone Ave and Waterworks Park. Photos here.

Sept 15, 2008...Highway 163/63/34 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The date has been changed to Nov 12, 2008. Join representatives from throughout the area and state to celebrate and commemorate the completion of the Highway 163/63/34 corridor connecting Des Moines to Burlington. The 5.7-mile trail along the bypass in Fairfield is included in this project.

September 06, 2008...Neff Wetlands floods
Heavy rain in early September 2008 caused Crow Creek to overflow into the Neff Wetlands, overflowing the dike and covering the trail. See some photos here.

April 07, 2008...Bikeway/Walkway Signs Appearing Around Town
The Jefferson County Trails Council has begun putting up signs around town for a city-wide Bikeway/Walkway system.

All the signs will be up by the end of May. In the meantime, cyclists wishing to follow them may miss a turn and get lost! Maps and other information about the plan can be found here.

April 06, 2008...Nathaniel Alexander completes his Eagle Scout work by fashioning 4 new benches for the Loop Trail. The benches are made from locally harvested and milled osage orange trees.

A member of Troop #108, Nathaniel was helped by Josh Adams, Doug Adams, and Ace Boothby.

See more photos, here.

Oct 3, 2007...New Pedestrian Bridge Named In Honor Of Matkin
   The recreational trails surrounding Fairfield will now include a pedestrian bridge immediately north of the Maharishi University of Management campus that will connect trail segments on either side of Highway 1. The Jefferson County Trail System has secured $125,000 in federal funding to pay for a bowstring truss bridge.

   Ron Blair, of the trails council, says he hopes that bid letting by the Department of Transportation will happen as early as the first quarter of next year, and that installation will be in the summer or fall. The Jefferson Country Trail System will be raising an additional $50,000 to build wooden approaches to the bridge and to modify the trail so that it's slightly farther south.

   The bridge will be named the William Charles Matkin Memorial Bridge, in honor of the late Bill Matkin.

Sept 5, 2007...Another short photo series... of textures in plants. All were taken on recent walks on the highway bypass construction sites.
Hope you enjoy them. © 2007, Paul Siemsen.  Click here.

Aug 19, 2007...A Rock Island Railroad Crossing Signal is now back along the railroad right-of-way, but on the "old" alignment instead of the "new" alignment of the Rock Island.

Confused? See Ron Meyers' report.

Aug 10, 2007...Questions have arisen regarding the weed-control procedures currently being tried on the Loop Trail. Ron Blair prepared a reply - Click here.

July 23, 2007...On July 2nd, environmental artist Patricia Innis and volunteers started work on a large-scale earthwork on the Jefferson County Loop Trail near Chautauqua Park.

The sculpture, made of topsoil and to be planted with yellow prairie flowers, will provide a habitat for birds, and in the fall, seeds for them to eat. It is Innis' hope that the sculpture will nurture the viewer while nourishing the birds.

See the full story, and photos, here.

July 15, 2007...The new bridge over the (under-construction) Highway 34 bypass is now open on Cedar View Trail.

Approaches to the bridge were paved with stones that were designed to give the impression of railroad tracks, since this trail is on an abandoned (1980) Rock island track. A grant from the National Endowment of the Arts assisted us in enhancing the bridge.

The Iowa DOT helped by building decorative fence posts for an Art Deco look.  See CVT Trail photos, including the new bridge.

Jun 13, 2007...Brian Stains writes: "I found a very cooperative and photogenic cecropia moth, the largest moth species in North America, this morning at dawn resting on the grass adjacent to the Fairfield Loop Trail, Route 34 underpass at Crow Creek."

"It's amazingly woolly!" See two larger photos.

Mar 02, 2007...Our most recent project is the new Fry Trail, which connects Chautauqua Park with Lamson Woods, giving us a continuous 6.1-mile stretch of the Loop Trail.

It has been slow going for a variety of reasons, but now it only needs additional surfacing to be complete. Watch for our Grand Opening.    Read the history and see more photos.

December, 2006...Construction of the new Cedar View Trail bridge over the new Hwy 34 bypass is proceeding, but may not be complete until Spring.
More details here. Click here for a PDF file with photos.

September, 2006...Stylized "tree-forms" of Cor-Ten steel were added to the CVT Bridge over Crow Creek to soften its industrial appearance. Details here.
Also, see Judy Bales' website page.

August 09, 2006...Construction began on the Cedar View Trail, to allow grading of the new four-lane bypass, and the construction of a trail bridge over the bypass. More details here.

June 08, 2006...The Iowa Department of Transportation announced today that the Cedar View Trail will be closed starting Wednesday, June 14, 2006. This closure will allow for grading of the new four-lane bypass, and the construction of a trail bridge over the bypass. The CVT is projected to be opened again by the end of the year. More details here.

May 22, 2006...Come out and celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 3. Work on our trails, cut the ribbon on a new dock. Ride the new electric "Trail Buggy." Visit the Bonnifield Log House on the Heritage Trail. More details here.

May 8, 2006...The Bikeway/Walkway Plan was presented to the City today. It was well received. Details here.

May 7, 2006...Josh Adams, of Boy Scout Troop #108, received his Eagle Scout Award. His project was building 3 map and literature kiosks for the JCTC.
Photos here.

May 7, 2006...A dock was installed in Reservoir #1 at Waterworks Park, now that the reservoir has been transformed into a water recreation area (for swimming). Photos here.

Apr 02, 2006...This website is a winner in the 2005 American Trails Website Contest. Check out the other winners and the all the nominated sites at the American Trails website.

Mar 11, 2006...A public meeting was held today to present the Bikeway/Walkway Plan to the public. See details here. It will be presented to the City on May 8.

Jan 30, 2006...University of Iowa Graduate Students in Urban Planning are preparing the City of Fairfield Bikeway/Walkway Plan: Safe and Healthy Transportation Alternatives for a Stronger Community. Details here.

Oct 9, 2005...The Jefferson County Conservation Board and the Trails Council each hosted the first Trail Drive-Through for Vehicles. The BNSF Trail saw 55 cars & trucks, 2 motorcycles and 1 Dodge Power Wagon drive on the 1-mile section, including the artistically-enhanced BNSF Bridge.

(Click on the photos to enlarge).
The Cedar View Trail saw 74 vehicles drive on the 1.4-mile trail, which includes the 387-foot bridge over Cedar Creek. Details from Ron Meyers' Trail Talk webpage.

Aug 26, 2005...A story about our BNSF Trail Bridge has appeared on the American Trails website. Click here for the link.

June 2, 2005...Thanks to Dave Neff, there is a beautiful new walking trail (sorry, no bikes allowed) which you can access at Glasgow Rd or in Lamson Woods. The trail winds above the wetlands, through some pretty scenery and then enters Lamson Woods at its northeast corner.

May30, 2005...A special thanks to Dr Larry Nash for spending a very physical half-day helping us clear the Walking Trails on the east and west side of Reservoir #2.

May 27, 2005...Every trail segment (and kiosk) has been "adopted" in the Adopt-A-Trail Program. We are very appreciative of those who've stepped forward to help. Thanks to Bob Rutt for coordinating this effort.

May 13, 2005...Two students met their Fairfield High School community service hours requirement by turning oak tree-stumps into a rest area. Situated along the trail east of Chautauqua Park, the stumps came from diseased oak trees that were cut down in the park by Pam Craff, the Fairfield Park Superintendent. Thanks to Bryan Chonowski, Justin Brown, and friends. Enlarge the photo.

Jan 22, 2005...The Osby family and the Fry family have given us easements to allow us to extend the Loop Trail. The new segment will connect the Huggins Family Bridge in Chautauqua Park with the Neff Family Wetlands. Three small bridges will need to be constructed.

Oct 9, 2004...Using the new BNSF Trail, Fairfield's first Town and Trail Run (10K and 5K) was a great success. The Physical Therapy Department of Jefferson County Hospital, a co-sponsor of the Run, reminds you to keep moving. See map.

Oct 2, 2004...The Grand Opening of the long-awaited one-mile link in the Fairfield Loop Trail between the North Trail Segment and Chautauqua Park took place under sunny skies today. Approximately 45 people participated in a ribbon cutting on the 246-foot BNSF Trail Bridge. Also, the Chautauqua Park Bridge was dedicated as the Huggins Family Bridge. Grand Opening photos.

Sept 30, 2004... A new kiosk being installed at the entrance to the new BNSF Trail in Chautauqua Park.

The kiosk was built by Josh Adams for his Eagle Scout project. Josh belongs to Boy Scout Troop 108.

See another kiosk photo.

Sept 23, 2004...The entire BNSF Trail now is rocked from Walton Road to Chautauqua Park. Some additional fencing still needs to be erected, so be careful.

Sept 19, 2004...Ron Blair, Chairman, announced the Grand Opening of the new BNSF Trail that crosses over the BNSF railroad. On Saturday, October 2, at 10:30 AM, short speeches and a ribbon cutting will formally open the BNSF Trail Bridge and the Chautauqua Park Bridge. Meet at the east end of Chautauqua Park for fun and refreshments. See an invitation in Acrobat Reader.

Sept 19, 2004...The last of the 171 tiles were installed today. Pete Fotis and Bob Saturley gave us invaluable help in setting the tiles. Additional caulking will be applied for weather protection.

Sept 16, 2004...Rock has been applied to the trail section that connects the BNSF Trail Bridge to Chautauqua Park. Next, the section from the BNSF Trail Bridge to Walton Road will be rocked. In the meantime, watch out for mud.

Sept 9, 2004...Judith Bales, who designed the bridge covering, and an advisor, Bob Saturley, are mounting the first of 171 tiles on the BNSF Trail Bridge side-wall.

Mark Shafer's advanced art class at Fairfield High School designed and created the tiles. More photos.

Sept 5, 2004...Using the new BNSF Trail, Fairfield's Town and Trail Run on Saturday, October 9th, will follow the Loop trail to Pleasant Plain Road, where the 10K run will turn around. The 5K runners and walkers will turn around at the new BNSF Trail Bridge. See map, and see more details.

Held in conjunction with the 9th annual Fairfield Bike Fest, runners, walkers and bikers will finish at Howard Park. The Jefferson County Hospital PT Department is a co-sponsor, who encourages you to come out and exercise.

Sept 3, 2004...The chain-link mesh cover is now complete, and the "wings" at the end of the BNSF Trail Bridge are in place. The connecting trails are awaiting stone surfaces. Soon the 171 ceramic plaques will be mounted on the bridge side-wall.

Aug 1, 2004...Some of the chain-link mesh that covers the new BNSF Trail Bridge was manufactured incorrectly. That is why you see a missing section. New chain-link will arrive in 3-4 weeks.
Next month the 171 ceramic plaques will be mounted on the bridge side-wall.

July 26, 2004...Construction has started on the trail that will connect Walton Road with the new BNSF Trail Bridge. Next to be done is the trail from the bridge to Chautauqua Park.

May/June/July, 2004 -- Construction of the new bridge over the BNSF Railroad tracks takes place.

Click on BNSF Bridge News for details.

Click on BNSF Bridge Photos for a complete photo essay.

May 17, 2004...National Trails Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in June. This year it is June 5. Activities will take place at Jefferson County Park and Chautauqua Park. Details here.

May 10, 2004...In case you did not notice, parts of this website have been revised and updated. We hope you like it. Send us your comments.

Mar 22, 2004...We burned the prairie next to the trail that runs east from B Street. For its own good.

Click here to find out why prairies are burned.

Feb 17, 2004...Construction of the new bridge over the BNSF railroad tracks will begin soon. Godbersen-Smith Construction Co. submitted the winning bid. Click on BNSF Bridge News for updates and BNSF Bridge photos for photos.

Nov 17, 2003...One of our partners, the Jefferson County Conservation Board, now has a website, www.JeffersonCountyConservation.com. Take a look.

July 31, 2003...New bench, built by craftsman Duncan MacMaster and his students, installed on small walking trail located on the west side of Reservoir #2. Take the trail to the far north and as it curves through the pine grove and to the east, you will find a short spur down to the water where the bench is located.

July 3, 2003...The Trail System will be getting new benches made from osage orange logs. Fine woodworking craftsman Duncan MacMaster is holding summer classes -- students are shown with one bench.

June 29, 2003...On Saturday, June 29, JCTC volunteers completed assembly of the new Chautauqua Park Bridge. This bridge will connect to a new trail (as yet unbuilt) that will lead to the new bridge over the BNSF railroad tracks (perhaps next Spring), which will enable one to travel to the existing trail at Walton Lake.

June 12, 2003...Zach Crane, from Boy Scout Troop #64, has been completing his Eagle Scout project by improving the rustic walking trail along the western edge of Reservoir #2. Improvements include wooden stepping stones, two new bridges, and general trail maintenance.

June 6, 2003...The JCTC hosted, in collaboration with the 1st Friday ArtWalk, an exhibition entitled "Trail of Discovery: Four Seasons of Walking the Jefferson County Trail System," by photographer Kenneth Gordon West, Jr. of Fairfield. These landscape photographs drew over 1000 visitors and garnered rave reviews!

Apr 22, 2003...The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad has given approval for the preliminary engineering design plans for our bridge over their tracks, east of Chautauqua Park. Final design plans will now be created by Calhoun-Burns & Assocs. from Des Moines, the engineering company which designed the Cedar View bridge.

Mar 26, 2003...U S Cellular granted the JCTC an easement through their property next to Walton Lake. This will allow us to construct a trail from Walton Road, through the woods, to the new BNSF bridge. The bridge construction must await permits.

Mar 22, 2003...Springtime maintenance has started. Volunteers replaced posts at the Reservoir # 2 parking lot on Pleasant Plain Rd. Thanks to Dick Arnold for digging the holes -- it saved a lot of tough hand digging!

Click here for previous news (2002-2001).