Named for Fort Madison's community trails group, Promoting Outdoor Recreational Trails, the Fort Madison PORT Trail is a developing network of multi-use trails in the riverside city's western outskirts. As of 2019, two out of a planned five phases of the trail have been completed, allowing trail users to explore a pleasant, natural corridor that leads into the city's Ivanhoe Park.
Starting in the north, the trail heads south from the sidewalk along Bluff Road, passing behind a row of homes and into a tranquil, tree-lined corridor. The trail then diverges into two paths, with one running west over to 48th Street, and one continuing south into the small neighborhood park, home to a wide variety of athletic facilities, picnic areas, and a skate park.
Future plans include extending the trail further west to reach the local community hospital, eventually creating a looping trail system across the area. For now, the PORT Trail serves as a lovely recreational path that will hopefully form a strong backbone for the developing trail network.
Parking and restrooms are available at Ivanhoe Park; the park entrance is located by the intersection of Avenue L and 38th Street.
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