We have Bike Trail News!
![We have Bike Trail News!](https://i0.wp.com/mnbump.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/bike-path-sign-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1244&ssl=1)
We received word today that Big Stone County’s grant application to Minnesota’s Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) has been approved!
What does that mean? It means that the one-mile section of the bike trail (The Minnesota River Headwaters Trail) will be hard-surfaced – as a 2023 project. There will be no match expense to the County or the City for this grant. A big shout out to Commissioner Roger Sandberg for his persistence year after year in searching for funding to get this done! I think Roger would be able to give you quite a list of programs and connections – letters and verbal requests to our representatives – and so forth. The mission has been accomplished and in 2023 it will be completed.
This trail has been a topic of conversation in Ortonville for many years. In 2008, when the county constructed the trail – the plans and budgets included the 1.3-mile section that connected the trail to the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge’s auto tour; however, that section was not completed (for various reasons out of the County’s control) – and left it difficult at times to travel via bike from Ortonville’s Lakeside Park to join up with the 5.2-mile auto tour with additional hiking trails within the 11,586-acre Big Stone Wildlife Refuge.
What a beautiful ride it will be to travel by bike from Ortonville’s Lakeside Park to the Refuge – travel the auto tour and explore the trails!
City of Ortonville – www.relaxurhere.com