State Trail Acquisition
Project Overview Minnesota, which was recently named "Best Trails State" in the country, is host to numerous state trails providing a variety of different outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the state. This appropriation is allowing the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to acquire land expanding two of these state trails: the Brown's Creek segment of the Willard Munger Trail in Washington County and the Paul Bunyan Trail along Lake Bemidji. The Brown's Creek segment runs six miles between the Gateway State Trail and downtown Stillwater along the route formerly used by the Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Train, while the new segment of the Paul Bunyan Trail runs 1.25 miles along the southeastern shore of Lake Bemidji.
Overall Project Outcome and Results
The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund funding allowed for the following:
- Ownership of approximately 1.25 miles of the Paul Bunyan State Trail. Acquisition of this property provided for the necessary connection to the Paul Bunyan State Trailhead on the southeastern corner of Lake Bemidji. The property is comprised entirely of former industrial property, located adjacent to the shoreline of Lake Bemidji. The 2009 Trust Fund appropriation amount partially funded this acquisition.
- Ownership of approximately 6 miles of the Browns Creek Segment of Munger State Trail. The property is comprised entirely of the right-of-way of the former Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Trail and traverses the margins of the St. Croix River floodplain adjacent to T.H. 95, the gently to steeply sloping bluffs of the river valley and gently rolling uplands that are interspersed with residential and commercial development. The 2009 Trust Fund appropriation amount partially funded this acquisition.
$1,000,000 is from the trust fund to the commissioner of natural resources to assist in the acquisition of the Brown's Creek Segment of the Willard Munger Trail in Washington County and Paul Bunyan State Trail in the city of Bemidji.
Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".
Click on "Final Report" under "Project Details".