Beaver Creek Water Trail System

Johnston, IA | Water

As a strategic access point to recreational activities like kayaking and canoeing within the Iowa’s Confluence Water Trails Master Plan, the Beaver Creek Trail System was the first step in realizing a larger vision of connecting communities to Iowa waterways.

After identifying over 80 access points to develop along large segments of Iowa’s waterways, a generous land donation and grant funding allowed the redevelopment of a recreational access area along Beaver Creek to move forward.

Meandering for approximately six miles through the most northern portion of Boone County and extending into the heart of the City of Johnston, Iowa, Beaver Creek connects to many smaller to mid-sized communities located along the riverway. Working collaboratively with Iowa’s Confluence Water Trails (ICON), the City included the design and construction of Beaver Creek access point into its 2019 Development Plan. The forethought to plan and leverage a land donation made to the City generated momentum for implementing the larger ICON vision for the state.

ISG’s feasibility study provided community leaders with information necessary to plan and gain approval for the project. Recommended improvements included a hard trail for pedestrians, parking area, concrete ramp for recreational accessibility, water quality improvements, creek bank stabilization, and signage. After field-verifying constructability of the identified amenities, ISG developed site plans, conceptual renderings, cost estimates, construction schedules, and potential permitting requirements for each recommendation. Several overarching goals of the CIWT plan were accomplished including a low maintenance design and preservation and restoration of existing greenspace. The newly created sites now provide canoers, kayakers, and floaters of all experience levels with a public space to access Beaver Creek with ease.