Dakota Trail opens in Carver County
Gray skies and persistent rain did not deter enthusiastic trail users from celebrating the grand opening of the first phase of the Dakota Rail Regional Trail in Mayer May 21.
The event included comments from elected officials and Carver County Parks staff members, a ribbon-cutting, refreshments, and an inaugural bike ride on the trail.
The first phase of the trail in Carver County includes seven miles of paved trail from Hennepin County to Mayer.
The trail is suitable for bicycling, walking, running, in-line skating, dog walking, and other non-motorized uses.
Since it opened, the trail has been extremely popular
Most of the construction was completed during 2010.
The next phase will extend the trail five miles from Mayer to McLeod County.
The Carver County Parks Department is gathering input for the planning of the next phase, which includes development of trailhead facilities in the cities of Mayer and New Germany.
The trail covers a portion of the 44-mile Dakota Rail corridor, which crosses Hennepin, Carver, and McLeod counties.
Located near the intersection of Carver County Road 30 and Highway 25 in Mayer, the trailhead includes a 20-space parking area, a plaza, bike rack, portable toilet, and a rain garden.
The Dakota Rail project in Carver County includes two phases. The second phase of the project, from Mayer to the west county line, is expected to begin in 2012.
Carver County Parks Director Marty Walsh said the trail surface will be asphalt, which will not only attract the greatest number of trail users, but is consistent with the requirements of the federal transportation enhancement funding grants, which amount to about $1 million for each six-mile section.
Funding for the $1,967,439 project includes $1,044,300 in federal transportation funds, $550,680 in stimulus funds, $300,000 from the Carver County Regional Rail Authority, and $72,459 from Carver County Parks and Trails.
When complete, the trail could link New Germany and Mayer to the western suburbs and to cities in McLeod County, and will provide a variety of recreational opportunities.
According to the master plan prepared by Carver County and approved in August 2007, the trail, which extends 12.4 miles across the northern part of the county, will be developed as “a multi-use trail that will compliment Carver County’s existing trail system.”
During the winter months, the trail may be open to snowmobile use if cities, townships, and the county allow this, according to the plan.
No other motor vehicles will be allowed on the trail. Equestrian use will also be prohibited, because demand is low, and because the trail is near the Luce Line horse trail.
The county purchased the portion of the Dakota Rail corridor within Carver County in 2001.
The corridor generally has a 100-foot right-of-way, but the right-of-way widens to 300 feet in Mayer, and 250 feet in New Germany.
The design for the trailhead in New Germany has not been completed, but it could include a parking area and other amenities similar to the trailhead in Mayer.
In addition to federal grants, the Metropolitan Council will also provide funding for the trail, according to the plan.
The rails and ties were removed from the corridor in 2004 and 2005.
Eventually, the trail could extend west across McLeod County, but no plans for trail development or funding have yet been approved in McLeod County.
