(Radio Iowa) – The state transportation commission has approved funding for links to several existing recreational trails, and some new ones. The D-O-T’s Scott Flagg oversees the trail program and says one project will link the Raccoon River Valley Trail to the High Trestle Trail in central Iowa.

That project is getting 675-thousand dollars. Jasper County is receiving nearly 500-thousand dollars for the Red Rock Prairie Trail.

The Fontana Park Learning and Discovery Trail project is getting 238-thousand dollars.

Phase two of the Little River Scenic Pathway is receiving 368-thousand dollars in funding.

Phase two of the Ballpark to Ballpark Shelby County Trail Phase was awarded 463-thousand dollars.

Polk County won funding for a mountain bike park. Flagg says these types of parks can bring in a lot of people.

He says the facility will offer a lot of different things for bikers.

That project is getting 400-thosuand dollars. The State Recreational Trails Program requires 25 percent of the project to be paid for by the city or county getting the funds. Flagg says they had 44 applications requesting more than 21 million dollars in this round.