Stanton’s Greenbelt Trail receives $1000,000 Wellmark Foundation grant

Stanton’s Greenbelt Trail is one of the Wellmark Foundation’s 13 Iowa organizations that will receive Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grants, contingent upon securing the required dollar-for-dollar match.

The funds will go toward Phase I of the trail.

The entire Stanton Greenbelt Trail will be 3.1 miles, of which 1.8 miles has been completed. The remaining 1.2 miles of trail will be constructed on the east side of Stanton and will include two construction phases.

Phase I will include one mile of trail on the eastern side of the city that will connect the Stanton Child Resource Center with the southeastern side of town at Frankfort and 225th streets.

Phase II is approximately 0.275 miles, and will connect Phase I to Anderson Park, home of the high school baseball field and picnic area.

“The Wellmark Foundation is excited to see the planning, focus and community engagement in each of the selected applications,” said Mary Lawyer, executive director for The Wellmark Foundation. “Each project has the potential to make a positive, long-term impact on the overall health and well-being of community which will enhance the quality of life for generations to come.”

To ensure community support for these projects, organizations have until Aug. 25 to secure their matching funds. Each of these grantees are planning projects that can help individuals, families and communities achieve better health through built environment initiatives that encourage physical activity and providing access to healthy foods.