Tri-State Trail Vision is a 501c3 non-profit organization.

Created from the Dubuque (Iowa) Envision 2010 Process in 2005, Tri-State Trail Vision is a group of residents who advocate for walking, hiking, and bicycling. Later water trail development became available. We encourage city leaders to adhere to the Complete Streets Initiative, provide input to city and county leaders, support grant proposals, and promote biking, hiking, and water trail events.

Meet the Board

  • Ron Bensink

    PRESIDENT

    I was not a bike rider in my earlier years except for some youthful riding before I got my driver's license. After college and military service, my wife and I moved to Dubuque in 1972 when I began my employment with John Deere. We did not do any biking for several years, but when the Heritage Trail was in its development stages we began to take an interest and decided that might be a good way to get some exercise and recreation. As the trail developed, I picked up more interest in biking. I discovered recumbent bicycling and began biking in earnest from then on. I have spent many hours on the Heritage Trail over the years and participated in a few RAGBRAI events. I have also used my engineering skills to design and build some specialty recumbent vehicles as a hobby.

  • Charlie Winterwood

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Always a nature lover, I have enjoyed countless hours hiking and observing birds and other wildlife. I have been providing leadership in several organizations, such as the Audubon Society, Tri-State Trail Vision, Friends of Dubuque County Conservation, and the Mississippi Trails Hiking Club over the years. I admire the beauty of the Driftless Area and hope others do too through outdoor recreation.

  • Dianne Koch

    SECRETARY, WEBSITE & FACEBOOK COORDINATOR & TSTV NEWSLETTER EDITOR

    As an avid road bike rider, hiker, and cross-country skier, I enjoy the outdoor opportunities within the tri-state area of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The area waterways offer fun experiences for canoeing and kayaking as well. I especially enjoy bike riding the Driftless Area of Southwestern Wisconsin, where most roads are paved. Enjoying the wildflowers and prairie grasses of various parks or recreation areas, I love the diverse landscape so close to us and the changing of the seasons. I take the bike and/or hiking sticks whenever I travel to discover new bike routes and hiking trails.

  • Pat Prevenas

    TREASURER

    I attended the initial meetings of the Envision 2010 task in 2005 as an employee of the Dubuque Leisure Services Department and a bicyclist.  Once Tri State Trail Vision organized and became a non profit, I continued as a volunteer board member to support the future development of trails in the  tri state area.  I was elected Treasurer of the organization in 2016 and still bike the trails that have been developed over the past two decades.

  • Art Roche

    Art Roche has been a TSTV board member since 2012 and has facilitated two strategy planning processes for the organization. He served as voluntary Promotions Director for Heritage Trail, Inc., the group that built Heritage Trail and then turned it over to the Dubuque County Conservation Board.  He chaired the unsuccessful $40 million Land and Water Conservation bond issue in 2021, and now chairs the Dubuque Area Land and Water Legacy LLC, focusing funding to improve natural habitat. He rides his bicycle nearly every day and loves hiking, backpacking, and camping.

  • Jim Gonyier

    I and two other staff members of the regional planning agency were charged with the development of the initial 2010 Tri-State Trail Vision Plan and gathering public input between 2005 and 2008. Following my retirement, I continue to attend the TSTV meetings as a volunteer to assist the Board where possible. I was also the local representative for the Iowa portion of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT). My favorite hiking route includes the trail segments near the river's edge within Dubuque, including the upper half of Chaplin. Schmidt Island, the path thru A.Y. McDonald Park from boat ramp towards the Lock & Dam, and also the short trail between the Ice Harbor & Shot Tower. They are easy to get to, and the river is always beautiful.


  • Jennifer Hanniford

    I'm an avid hiker and nature enthusiast. No matter the season, lacing up my boots and hitting the trails with my family is a favorite activity. Whether it’s a challenging trek or a leisurely one, being outside recharges my battery. Our region has many accessible and diverse ways to explore the outdoors. Through my work with TSTV, I hope to increase awareness of these opportunities.