
Rapp Park Connector Trail
The Wabash Trace Rapp Park Connector Trail project will unite the 63 mile long Wabash Trace Nature Trail with other key services and outdoor recreation infrastructure in southwest Iowa. Connections will be made from the Sportsmans Park trailhead in Shenandoah to Page County Conservation’s Rapp Park and the Wabash Trace Cemetery Trailhead in Shenandoah. The project includes city, county and non-profit partnerships and will benefit not only residents but also business owners and tourists. It will increase accessibility and create safe routes to popular destinations. The benefits of this project reach throughout the region, as the Wabash Trace Nature Trail extends to the Omaha metro area on the northern end and the Missouri Border on the southern end. The trail connections will provide residents and visitors alike with important safe access to amenities like local parks and natural areas, swimming pools, tennis courts, ballfields, and campgrounds.
Photo by Marcia Volker
Project Components
Project Details
The Wabash Trace Rapp Park Connector Trail project will link the Sportsmans Park trailhead in Shenandoah to Page County Conservation’s Rapp Park and the Wabash Trace Cemetery Trailhead in Shenandoah, as well as replace existing asphalt and crushed limestone surfacing from Sportsmans Park north to Highway 59.
The project includes city, county, private and non-profit partnerships and will benefit not only residents but also business owners and tourists. It will increase accessibility and create safe routes to popular destinations, which is extremely important when looking at the equity and quality of life in a community. The benefits reach throughout the region, as the Wabash Trace Nature Trail extends to Council Bluffs and connects to metro area trails on the northern end and the Missouri Border on the southern end. The completed project will provide residents and visitors alike with safe access to amenities like local parks and natural areas, fishing areas, the swimming pool, tennis courts, ballfields, and campgrounds.
Map

Project Status
With the involvement of federal funds, the expected timeline is that we can proceed with bidletting in July of 2026, with construction beginning in the fall of 2026 and completion in summer of 2027.
How to Contribute

Support the Rapp Park Connector Trail!
We know that all people prefer to donate in different ways, so we want to make this easy for you. If you prefer to donate online with a credit card, you can use this form to donate to the Rapp Park Connector Trail Project. If mailing a check is easier (it also saves us processing fees!), you can mail a check to: SWINT, PO Box 581, Shenandoah, IA 51601. If possible, please print the donor form above and include with your check. Thank you for your support!
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Thank You to our Funders!
A current list of Grantees and Donors can be found below.
Destination Iowa
$600,000 awarded from the Iowa Economic Development Authority's Destination Iowa Fund.
City of Shenandoah
$350,000 multi-year commitment from the City of Shenandoah's LOST
Cy & Caroline Rapp Trust
$500,000 multi-year pledge from the Cy & Caroline Rapp Trust of Shenandoah
RPA-13 TAP Funds
$400,000 from the Regional TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) Funds through the IDOT
State Recreational Trails
$285,000 pending from the Iowa DOT State Recreational Trails Fund
Iowa West Foundation
$150,000 from the Iowa West Foundation
Kay Anderson Foundation
$100,000 multi-year commitment from the Kay Anderson Foundation
Page County Supervisors
Page County Community Foundation
Robert Holmes
Family Foundation
Pella Windows Foundation
Gilchrist Foundation
$50,000 multi-year commitment from Page County Supervisors' LOST
$40,000 from the Page County Community Foundation
$40,000 from the Robert C. Holmes Family
$25,000 from the Pella Windows Foundation
$20,000 from the Gilchrist Foundation
Greater Shenandoah Foundation
$20,000 from the Greater Shenandoah Foundation
Lloyd Family Foundation
$20,000 from the Lloyd Family Foundation
Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association
$10,000 pledge from the Shenandoah Chamber & Industry Association
Connell Brothers
Donation of the corridor required for the Connector Trail
Jeff & Michelle Franzen
$5,000 in Memory of Larry Franzen
$1,000+
Bill & Deb Hillman
Mike & Tammy Pavich
Grant & Mary Beth Wiese
Ernie & Jeannine Liljedahl
Susie Winegardner
Jerry & Becca Laughlin
C.E. & Carol Hornbuckle
First Interstate Bank
Pork Belly Ventures
$500+
Greg Losh
Elise Morvant & Debra Pence
John Schwartz
Robert & Jeanne Ayers Morette
Martin McClelland & Lori Warren
William Fortner & Jacqui Guenther-Fortner
Mark Campisano
$100+
Ellen & Frank Hagelberg
John Magee
Marianne & Sean Flood
Mr. & Mrs. Ronnie Malatesta
Tim & Kim Gathman
Margaret Grenisen & John Cochran
Ronald & Marva Mehaffey
Virginia Croker
Donald & Jill Heine
Harris Powers, Jr.
Faith Pembleton
Frank J, Jr.
Michael Clayton
Oxford Street Holdings, Inc.
Herman & Susan Bell
Janice Randel
Jason & Jennifer Ross
John Jenkins
Mary Kay Maher
Claud Jetton
Valerie Nixon
Edward & Sandra Wood
Steven & Melissa Smit
Timothy & Michele Whaylen








