Funds tagged for Lundby bridge at Linn park

DES MOINES - Mary Lundby may no longer be in the Iowa Senate, but she moved legislation Saturday.

Honoring a commitment lawmakers made to the later Marion senator, the Senate is expected to approve $500,000 appropriation from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) to build a bridge across the Wapsipinicon River at Pinicon Ridge Park near Central City.

Lundby, who served 22 year in the Legislature, did not seek re-election in 2008 and died earlier this year. She had sought the funding last year and secured a commitment from Linn County lawmakers to continue to work for the appropriation this year, according to Sens. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, and Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids.

The $500,000 from the state will be matched by $500,000 from the county to build a bridge to connect the park, which lies on both sides of the river. It will connect to a trail that extends out of the park through Central City.

The project met the Legislature's goals of job creation, economic development and community revitalization, Dandekar and Hogg said. It's also consistent with Lundby's values as an advocate for parks, recreation, trains, the outdoors and the environment, the said.