Plywood Recreational Trail Advisory Committee President, Ryan Meyer, stands beside the map of the proposed bike trail that would extend 16 miles between Le Mars and Sioux City and connecting Merrill and Hinton.
(Hinton) — Nearly 40 people attended an informational meeting at Hinton last evening regarding the proposed Plywood Recreational Trail that would extend from Le Mars to Sioux City and go through Merrill and Hinton. Most of the people in
attendance were vocally opposed to the bicycle trail, and asked questions about liability, maintenance, fundraising, and the exact location of the proposed trail. Ryan Meyer, president of the Plywood Trail Advisory Committee tried to answer each of the questions posed by the audience. Meyer says the bicycle
trail advocates have settled on one proposed trail following the conclusion of a survey conducted.
Meyer admits not knowing yet if the trail would be located on the east side of the Highway 75, or running parallel on the west side of the highway.
Meyer says under the proposed trail route, the bicycle trail would encompass 16 miles which includes a portion of an existing trail at Sioux City. A common question that was asked during the Hinton meeting was what would be the cost to create the trail, and to maintain the trail.
Meyer says projections for the cost to maintain the trail run between $1,000 and 1,200 a mile.
Meyer gave assurances to the gathering that tax dollars would not be used to finance the project, but instead it would be paid for through fund raising efforts and an endowment.
