Press Release

For immediate release: October 30th, 2012 Contact: Brad Freidhof, Naturalist Johnson County Conservation Department Phone: (319) 645-1011 or (319) 331-7513 E-mail: bfreidhof@co.johnson.ia.us Johnson County Conservation Board Announces The Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening of the Clear Creek Trail TIFFIN, IA Johnson County Conservation Board (JCCB) is pleased to announce the completion and grand opening of the Clear Creek Trail on Friday, November 2 at 3 p.m. at the east end of the Clear Creek Trail off Ireland Avenue. The hiking, walking, biking trail extends along the north side of Clear Creek from Ireland Avenue, at the south edge of the City of Tiffin, west to Half Moon Avenue. This scenic nature trail runs through creek bottom timber where 133 species of plants have been documented. It is the first leg of a trail that will, in the future, eventually connect to Kent Park and possibly to the Amana Colonies. The JCCB has long been interested in extending a trail to link their 1,082-acre F.W. Kent Park, located 3 miles west of Tiffin, IA, with the trail systems of Tiffin, Coralville and Iowa City to the east. This project, which was funded by a Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP) Grant from the Iowa DNR and Conservation Bond funds, is a tenfoot-wide Portland Concrete Cement (PCC) trail 6 inches thick with an overall length of 6,800 feet. It features two bridges constructed from recycled railroad flatcars. There are two boardwalks. Motorized vehicles will be prohibited on the trail and use will be limited to hiking, walking and biking, with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing permitted in winter. Currently, bikers have few options other than riding on the often busy and sometimes dangerous highway 6. The trail will also provide hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts access to Clear Creek. The ribbon cutting/grand opening event will be held on Friday, November 2 at 3 p.m. at the east end of the Clear Creek Trail off Ireland Avenue. Parking is available on the east side of Ireland Avenue directly across from the trail. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information call the Johnson County Conservation Board Headquarters at (319) 645-2315. Visit the Johnson County Conservation Board website at www.johnsoncounty.com/conservation Follow us on twitter @JCConservation -30-

The recently completed segment of the Clear Creek Trail runs between Half Moon Avenue and Ireland Avenue. Parking for the trail dedication will be located on the eastside of Ireland Avenue across from the trail.