CITA Receives Grant from REI to Support New and Improved Dirt Trails in Des Moines
Des Moines, IA – The Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA) recently received a $10,000 grant from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) to support new and improved dirt trails in the Des Moines area. Celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, CITA has collaborated with the City of Des Moines, Polk County Conservation, and the Department of Natural Resources to build and maintain forty miles of singletrack trail for hiking, mountain biking, trail running, and bird watching. The organization plans to continue its growth in the community for many more years.
The grant will be used to help CITA maintain and refine existing completed trails as well as provide capital to pursue new trail sites in the Des Moines metro. In the last several years the City of Des Moines has partnered with CITA to close un-sustainable trail and replace it with professionally built, sustainable trail at Greenwood Park, in addition to breaking new ground on several miles of trail at Ewing Park and Grandview Park. CITA would like to continue this momentum and several potential new sites for singletrack development have been identified. Part of the grant funds will be used for professional teams to plan and design trail systems that utilize the Iowa terrain and can be enjoyed by various users.
New to the West Des Moines community in the fall of 2015, REI shares CITA’s passion and commitment to the soft trails in the area. REI has already collaborated with CITA for CITA’s annual Des Moines Dirty Duathlon, and REI has presented a local dirt trail class for interested trail users. CITA and REI will continue to partner together to inspire new trail users.
About Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA)
Founded in 1996, CITA in a not-for-profit subordinate to the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) working to educate Iowans on the value of sustainable multi-use natural surface wilderness paths often hidden within the City. CITA’s central purpose is to encourage outdoor activity and wellness by designing, constructing and maintaining shared use trails in partnership with city, county, state, and private landowners. CITA educates land managers and trail users through advocacy, mapping, planning, outreach, trail work days and social events. The organization is entirely based on volunteers, including its trail stewards, board members, and contribution members. For information on upcoming CITA events and volunteer opportunities, visit www.centraliowatrails.com.
About Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)
REI’s core purpose is to inspire, educate and outfit people in order to experience the benefits of active outdoor lifestyles, protecting and enhancing shared natural spaces, and mentoring the next generation of outdoor stewards. Each year, REI donates millions of dollars to support conservation efforts nationwide and sends dedicated teams of volunteers—members, customers and REI employees—to build trails, clean up beaches, restore local habitats and more. Through responsible business practices across the company, REI strives to reduce their environmental footprint. For more information about REI’s stewardship and work in the community, visit www.rei.com/stewardship.