Polk City Preparing To Become Biking Destination

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Polk City is getting closer to bridging the gap between two of Central Iowa’s most popular trails. Once the Polk City Junction Trail opens, it’s poised to turn the town into a new destination for cyclists.

Years In The Making

More than ten years after the Polk City Junction Trail was mentioned as a possibility, the new route is finally coming together.

“I’m just very pleased with the progress we’ve made getting that trail finished,” said Polk City Mayor Steve Karsjen.

He and his wife moved into town in 2017 and noticed an opportunity.

“We’re both avid bike riders. And there was no easy way to get to the High Trestle Trail from Polk City,” Karsjen said.

The High Trestle Trail is just a couple of miles northeast of Polk City but currently requires riding on county roads to get there. The Neal Smith Trail runs on the west side of town, following Saylorville Lake. That leaves Polk City in the middle of the two popular trails.

“The trail has been a top priority of mine, just because of all the potential it brings with it,” Karsjen said.

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The Route

Construction started last year on project, which will utilize some existing trails along the way. Here’s the route from north to south:

The Polk City Junction Trail will begin northeast of the city at the High Trestle Trail oasis. Polk County will build this section of the trail as it heads southwest through farm fields.

The trail will enter Polk City at the site of a proposed city park near Big Creek Elementary School. The trail (this section was built last year) straightens out to head due west until reaching N. 3^rd St. It will follow that street southbound through Kiwanis Park, using some pavement that is already in place.

The trail will turn off at W. Bluff St., then onto N. 2^nd St., where it will reach a trailhead at the intersection of W. Walnut St. Karsjen said the trailhead will be built where an empty lot now stands, and will include parking spaces, green space, picnic tables, a shelter, and some sort of restroom facility.

The Polk City Junction Trail will cruise by the town square at N. 2^nd and W. Broadway streets, link up with an existing trail and turn south at Deer Haven St.

The trail will eventually curve to the west as it follows E. Bridge Rd. Cyclists will cross S. 3^rd St. and continue west until the Polk City Junction Trail meets the Neal Smith Trail just east of Saylorville Lake.

Originally, the trail remained closer to N./S. 3^rd St. for most of its route, but Karsjen said unexpected costs forced the city to redraw the route.

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Getting Ready

Polk City’s town square is already a busy place with its fair share of cyclists thanks to the Neal Smith Trail about a mile to the south. But the addition of a trail running feet away from storefronts, along with a new trailhead, is creating optimism.

“We’re expecting a lot of bikers to come through town is what we’re hoping for,” said Dustin Comer, the general manager at Papa’s Pizzeria.

It’s coming at a perfect time for Papa’s, which is adding a bar and plans to serve beverages described by Comer as “beyond pizza place drinks.” The restaurant is also opening up its wall and creating a doorway to its neighbor, Fenders Brewing.

“You can get pizza, beer, liquor, all in the same establishment basically,” Comer said.

Mayor Karsjen said the city will be meeting with business owners on the square to help them prepare for an influx of cyclists. He said a special focus will be paid to establishments closest to the future trailhead, such as The Creamery ice cream shop.

“There were a lot of bikers before, but it was never, ‘Let’s start in Polk City,’” said Joe Fandell, owner of The Creamery. “Now I think it’s, a lot of people start here and decide which direction they want to go.”

Fandell said he hasn’t made any specific plans to accommodate new cyclists, aside from a bigger bike rack.

For businesses looking for a more substantial change, Karsjen said a façade improvement program will help them spruce up their exteriors. He hopes all these little things are just the beginning of Polk City’s future as a biking destination.

“It would be nice if we could one day see some businesses that are focused on cyclists. And you know, there’s a lot of businesses out there from bars to restaurants and bike shops,” Karsjen said.

The Polk City Junction Trail should be finished and ready to ride by the end of 2026.

One More Thing!

With winter on the way out, the Des Moines Cycle Club wants to spread the word about its “Pedal Off the Pounds” program. The goal is to lose some weight and get healthier through a “Biggest Loser” type of format.

Pedal Off the Pounds will meet Monday nights, April 28-August 18, at various locations, where attendees will hear from speakers before taking a ride.

It costs $70 to participate and requires membership to the DMCC ($25 for single, $40 for family). You can learn more at an informational meeting at 6 p.m. on March 24 at the West Des Moines Library.