Ribbon-Cutting for Veterans Memorial Plaza Trail on Friday

The City of Dubuque will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, to acknowledge the completion of the Veterans Memorial Plaza Trail.

The project's main component is the construction of a 10-foot wide concrete trail along Admiral Sheehy Drive from 16th Street to the Veterans Memorial Plaza on Chaplain Schmitt Island. Other components include a trailhead overlook, the installation of retaining walls to accommodate the trail, railings, ADA-compliant parking near the trail, lighting, and an emergency phone tower.

The project's total estimated cost is $893,632. It is being funded through a $615,000 federal Community Project Funding Grant secured by U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson, $275,000 from the Dubuque Racing Association, and $30,326 from the City of Dubuque. The project is nearly finished, with only the installation of railings remaining to be completed yet this fall.

"This project greatly improves connectivity to the Veterans Memorial Plaza and all the existing and planned amenities on Chaplain Schmitt Island," said Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh. "We're grateful for Congresswoman Hinson's support of this project which will be appreciated by an increasing number of trail users as the development of the island progresses."