The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning on pulling 17 million stimulus dollars slated for the Rock Island District to projects in other states. 4.6 million dollars of that funding was to be used for projects related to the Volksweg Trail in Marion County. Marion County – through the Marion County Conservation Board – is a partner in the project and county funds have already been allocated for restrooms and picnic shelters along the trail.

John Holt with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Red Rock says they were disappointed to hear that the stimulus funding would no longer be available for the project and says the Rock Island District as a whole is disappointed. Along with the $4.6m for the Volksweg Trail, the stimulus also included funding that was to be used for equipment purchases, road renovation and boundary work, among other projects.

Carla Eysink, Executive Director of the Marion County Development Commission, urges residents to contact our congressional leaders requesting that the funds be reinstated.

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