Engineering students designed a new trail layout for the Floyd River Trail that allowed for safer trail access and provided more recreational space for the residents of Sioux City and the surrounding area.

In 2009, re-routing of Union Pacific train tracks blocked the Floyd River Trail connecting with other city trails located near the surrounding neighborhoods. As a result, Floyd River Trail users did not have safe access to the trail near the intersection of Jefferson Street and Floyd Boulevard, and had to park near the railroad tracks and cross the tracks by foot in order to access the trail. The long term goal for the Floyd River Trail was for it to connect with the Floyd Boulevard and Outer Drive intersection, as well as extend to Le Mars, Iowa. When completed, the trail extension proposed by the students will help enhance the physical and mental wellbeing of trail users.