Buying Land for Walnut Creek Park, Trail Connection an Urbandale Priority

The purchase of 13.8 acres for the Walnut Creek Regional Park is a priority for development in Urbandale.

The Urbandale Capital Improvements Program Committee met on Tuesday to discuss upcoming projects including land acquisition for the park that will complete a park corridor along Little Walnut Creek.

The Des Moines Register reports the purchase, which will eventually link western trails to the main trail, is expected to cost $96,000 and be slated for 2014.

The construction of the mile-long trail Bob Layton Trail, which will link to a neighborhood and other trails, is estimated to cost $1.16 million.

The purchase is a benefit for the park system, parks director Jan Herke said during the meeting, the Register reported.

The purchase will make the park more complete and has the potential to be an asset to the metro area, said Bridget Montgomery, committee member.

The Parks and Recreation Department has a budget of $75,000 per year to maintain the 38 miles of trails in the city.