News
Follow the development of the Mill Towns Trail.
Maggie Lee Trail Dedication
Submitted by Rob Hardy on July 10, 2010
A new trail link was dedicated this morning behind Just Food Coop. The riverside trail, linking the Mill Towns Trail to downtown Northfield, was dedicated to Maggie Lee, who cut the purple ribbon to officially open the trail. Speakers at the event were Meg Otten, chair of the Friends of the Mill Towns Trail; Chip DeMann; Spencer Jones, the architect of the trail link; Mayor Mary Rossing; and Maggie Lee. After the ribbon cutting, attendees were offered purple coneflowers from Mayor Rossing's garden, and invited to toss them into the river and make a wish.
Just Food provided coffee and scones before the ceremony, and music was provided by brass from the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra. Coffee was offered after the ceremony on the new deck behind Butler's Steak and Ale.
Efforts to Acquire Trail Corridor
July 10, 2010
Appraisals were made by the DNR, approved in St. Paul, and offers made to property owners between Cannon Falls and Goodhue County Byllesby Park, for acquisition of one mile of the southern bank of the Cannon River. The offers were not successful. While LCCMR funding (gambling money) of $750,000 ran out June 30, efforts to acquire this trail corridor will continue. We appreciate the patience of the landowners throughout this process. We appreciate the efforts of DNR real estate officers Steve Hennessey and Joel Wagar.
Celebrate Trail Segment Completion
July 6, 2010
Come help us celebrate the completion of the Mill Towns Trail segment connecting Riverside Park to downtown Northfield. The trail dedication and ribbon cutting will take place on Saturday, July 10 at 9:30 am in Riverside Park. We will be honoring Maggie Lee, who's vision and leadership created the the riverwalk that is the heart and soul of downtown. After a brief ceremony, stroll along the river that Maggie recognized was so important and participate in the Farmers Marker and the Riverwalk Market Fair. See you Saturday!
Curtis Pesheck Dedication
May 10, 2010
You are invited to help the Friends of the Mills Towns Trail honor one of our most dedicated members, Curtis Pesheck. In recognition of all that Curtis did for the trail, an oak tree was planted last fall along the trail. We will dedicate the area with a brief gathering on Saturday, May 22 at 9 am. Please join us to honor Curtis, share a few stories with his wife and family and say thanks.
Details: Saturday, May 22 at 9 am, east side of the Peggy Prowe bridge, between the bridge and the Hwy 3 underpass.
April 14 Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2010
Mayor Glenn Switzer and Peggy Prowe presented south and east trail information at the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation meeting on April 6. Joel Walinski, City administrator, covered the Riverside Park to 5th Street trail construction, 4th Street reconstruction and bike lanes, and the east river trail to Dundas.
Thanks to the seven people cleaned the Nd./Dundas trail Friday, April 16. Rotary will be sending $18,000, results of the 2009 Jesse James Bike Tour, to the city of Northfield to start paying a $100,000 pledge toward the east river trail to Dundas. This trail will be hard limestone surfaced, complete a six mile loop.
Saturday, July 10 there willl be a bike tour of farms in Nerstrand, sponsored by the local chapter of Sustainable Farms Association. More details later. At the Minnesota fair grounds, April 23,24 the Minnesota Bicycle Expo. April 29 - Bicycle Tourism Summit at Breezy Point.
Steve Hennessey had an interview with Nancy Braker, arb director at Carleton College. Other routes to the Waterford bridge were suggested. The four properties west of Cannon Falls are being studied in the St. Paul DNR office. Steve hopes to have options signed on them before the money runs out June 30.
We discussed inviting the Vintage Bicycle Group from Minneapolis to come at the time of the Vintage band celebration in August. We look forward to CELEBRATING the completion of the Riverside Park to 5th Street trail.
Faribault city is the lead for pedestrian bridge across the Cannon River and underpasses under #21 and #3 in the MNDOT reconstruction of the intersection. Those trail elements will have bids let in June, construction starting in early July. These projects will complete the Mill Towns Trail in Faribault, connecting Sakatah Trail and the trailhead on Hwy. 21 and continuing to the northern city limits.
Warning signs are up on the trail north of the Northfield pedestrian bridge and Sechlar Park Road.
The Convention Visitors Bureau heard about the Mill Towns Trail and trail developments in Northfield planned for this summer. They promised support when the Legislative bonding committees come to town.
NDDC Invites You to Meeting about Northfield Bicycle Trail Developments
April 3, 2010
Northfield Downtown Development Corporation invites you to their
meeting, April 6, 8:00 am, downstairs at the Archer House. Mill Towns
Trail and Northfield bicycle trail developments are the subject this
month.
Glenn Switzer, Peggy Prowe, Joel Walinski and Katy Gehler-Hess will
be at the forum.
View the details.
Trail News & Day On The Hill
February 20, 2010
Tuesday, Feb. 23 the Parks & Trails Council is sponsoring the Day on the Hill. Starting at 9:00 AM, Judy Erickson, lobbyist will discuss the bonding bill. Forrest Boe and Courtland Nelson, DNR administrators, will discuss the parks and trails budget and the Legacy fund vision framework. After lunch we'll visit our legislators. Leaving at 8:00 AM, costs $15. Please call me if you can go. Peggy Prowe 507-301-2987
On Feb. 10, 2010, the Friends of the Mill Towns Trail met at Dundas City Hall. Northfield City Administrator Joel Walinski, Council person Jon Dennison, Dundas Mayor Glenn Switzer and DNR real estate specialist Steve Hennessey joined seven Board members to discuss the pending trail reconstruction grant application by the city of Northfield. The Board dedicated $50,000 toward the match for the grant. Feb. 16 the City Council supported the application in their consent agenda.
Clean-up of the transit hub/trail head site north of the pedestrian bridge will be accomplished next summer with Federal funds. The trail connection between 5th Street and Riverside Park along the river will be completed in June. During the summer 4th Street will have new infrastructure work and the bike lanes will be painted to standard width.
The group discussed safety signs for the Sechlar Park road entrance where the trail crosses the road, north of the bridge. Cautioning vehicles about the trail crossing is a strong concern of the Friends group. Joel Walinski thought Northfield could help, but was hesitant to commit to anything that requires ongoing maintenance cost. He also expressed a desire to have any signs meet placement standards as required by MN DOT, DNR and others.
Friends January Meeting
January 13, 2010
Joel Walinski, Northfield City Administrator, has been notified that the city has been awarded $150,000 for the Legacy grant to build a regional trail connected to the Mill Towns State Trail on the east side of the Cannon River between Dundas and Northfield. With the $100,000 commitment by Rotary (from Jesse James Bike Tours) and city construction of sewer line, this loop route will be built in summer 2010.
The Metro Council transportation group has awarded Dakota County Parks $532,000 for the bridge connecting Dakota and Goodhue Byllesby Parks, matching the grant of Federal Enhancement funds from Rochester MNDOT, district 6. Construction is planned for 2013 -14.
The DNR is ready for appraisals of four properties for the two miles between Cannon Falls and Goodhue Byllesby Park, expects them by the end of February. After review by the Department, offers may be made to property owners in April. Funds for the purchase and development are encumbered. Engineering will probably mean construction will be in 2011, ready for the bridge when it materializes.
Dakota County is applying for $1.2 million in bonding at the Legislature for bridge and trail work in Byllesby County Park.
The DNR has worked on a trail alignment between Dundas and Faribault. Application for bonding has been made for $600,000 for purchase of that property from a willing seller. Friends of the Mill Towns Trail will be participating in the Parks & Trails Council presentation to the House and Senate committee on Natural Resources Bonding Jan. 21.
Thursday, Jan. 14 an open house for the redevelopment plans for #3 and #21 intersection in Faribault will be held at city hall. Mill Towns State Trail would have two underpasses in the project to connect to the North Link Trail in Faribault. A bridge across the Cannon River would connect to the trail head. This construction is planned for 2010.
Friends October Meeting
October 15, 2009
Steve Hennessy, DNR, reported that the Metro Federal Enhancement grant for the other half of the Byllesby park connection bridge is almost certain to be awarded in November. This would mean construction in 2013. Dakota County is applying for $1,000,000 in state bonding to complete the trail connections in Byllesby Park on the north side of the Cannon River.
With the assistance of the Parks & Trails Council, property negotiations with owners on the south side of the Cannon west of Cannon Falls, are moving along. Kent Skaar, DNR, confirms that Mr. Goudy is willing to sell the river front piece. Steve says that engineering for trail from Cannon Falls, across the Wienrl property, under Highway #52 will be done this winter. Funding for these purchases and trail development was certified last bonding session, 2008.
The Friends group will submit support letters to Dakota County for their bonding request, to the Joint Powers Board for the $550,000 for acquisition between Dundas and Faribault, and to Northfield for the Legacy application for trail along the east side of the Cannon River, Northfield to Dundas. Meg Otten and City personnel are writing that grant application, due Nov. 13. Steve Janusz shared the Fillmore County/Root River lodging tax progression. Amazing what a good trail network accomplishes in tourism.
We discussed the construction of the new bridge on Canada Avenue, underpass space for the trail and preservation of the old Iron Bridge for pedestrian use. We discussed trail alignment in/around Northfield.
Treasurer John Stull will be cashing CD's to repay the City $121,086, the Friends share of the Total $1,025,449 bridge cost. About 1/3 Federal funding, 1/3 bonding, 1/3 city & Friends.
Just Foods sent a check for $424 from their re-used bag project.Thank you.
Northfield Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge Dedication and More
July 6, 2009
Due to busy schedules on the part of Board members, the Friends Board of the Mill Towns Trail will not meet on Wednesday, July 8.
Steve Hennessy, DNR, has been in contact with the railroad about right-of-way between Dundas and Faribault, with positive results. His grant application for Metro Federal enhancement funds for the other half of the bridge across the Cannon River to connect Goodhue and Dakota county Byllesby parks has been entered into consideration. Application for MURTHA funding for reconstruction of the Dundas/Northfield trail has not made the cut. Additional funding for the Cannon Falls to Byllesby trail did receive MURTHA money.
Plans for the dedication of the pedestrian/bicycle bridge in Northfield are being made by Rotary and Artrail leaders. Please plan to come on Saturday, August 15. 8:00 AM sign-in for the art tour, 9:00 AM dedication, 9:30 AM art tour, six sculptures (and sculptors) in Northfield and Dundas with Mayors! All are welcome to ride.
Meeting Agenda for Wednesday, June 10
6:30 PM, Dundas City Hall, Wednesday, June 10
- Steve Hennessey, DNR real estate agent, discussing activity on south and far eastern trail portions
- Plans for Curtis Pesheck memorial tree
- August 16 celebration of the bridge, mayors Art tour by bicycle
- MURTA grant for repaving Northfield/Dundas Trail
- Suzy Nakasian, member of the Northfield Grassroots Transit Initiative, sharing details about the new Metro Express bus service slated to start service in late summer and possible collaboration on a trailhead/transit hub
Cannon River Bridge Construction
April 25, 2009
The bridge across the Cannon River behind Walgreens has been taking shape this week. Lift and joining of the north and south sections is scheduled for 9:00 AM Monday, April 27. This is the result of Federal SafTLu funds, Rotary match, and state bonding. The city of Northfield has funded engineering and construction supervision. Landscaping and trail construction remain to be completed.
Curtis Paschek Memorial
April 6, 2009
Hello friends and supporters of the Mill Towns Trail-
As many of you know, we lost one of our most loyal and hard working members when Curtis Peschek died in January.
Curtis worked tirelessly to clean up the land surrounding the trail as it heads into Dundas - hauling away many truck loads of abandoned tires, car parts and trash. He was a constant fixture, with a couple of helpers, on many days and over many years. He cleared buckthorn, put up our snowmobile fence and did pretty much anything that needed doing. This included putting up our sign at a trail dedication. We are so grateful for his efforts and miss him.
We would like to create a memorial, consisting of a tree and plaque, in Curtis' honor. While most of his work was behind the scenes and he would shy away from any recognition of that work, the Board thought that a tree would be a fitting memorial to someone who worked so hard to beautify the trail.
We are soliciting donations to help purchase the tree and plaque. If you would like to help us honor Curtis, please forward your donation to:
Mill Towns Trail
P.O. Box 282
Northfield, MN 55057
Checks should be made payable to Mill Towns Trail, but please indicate "Curtis Peschek Fund" on the memo line.
Thanks for your interest and continued support of the Mill Towns Trail.
Minutes
March 13, 2009
Thanks to Commissioner Galen Malecha for getting this vital issue on the agenda:
This Tuesday morning, March 17, the Rice County Board will discuss their Highway Cost Sharing Policy as it relates to bike paths and sidewalks along roads. Currently the county does not fund these facilities on shared projects with cities, per its decision last August. This is a work session and those attending can speak for two minutes at 8:30 am at the beginning of the meeting; the agenda item is at 9:10. Apparently the City of Faribault is attending. County Board meetings are in Faribault. This is a rare opportunity to speak to the whole county board about this issue.
Minutes
February 5, 2009
At the Rice County Joint Powers Board of the Mill Towns State Trail on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, Joel Wagar, DNR, reported that the department has agreed to apply for two Federal Recreational Trail Program grants for Mill Towns Trail. Matching funds for both projects are in place.
- $150,000 for the bridge connecting Goodhue County Park with Dakota County Park. Probable construction 2013.
- $150,000 for the Faribault bridge across the Cannon River, north of the trail head. Probable construction 2010.
In the pre-application process, the Department did not agree to write the FRTP grant for the reconstruction/widening of the Dundas/Northfield section of trail. The Friends of the Mill Towns Trail have committed $100,000 match for this application. Council persons Jon Dennison and Erika Zweifel will request authorship by Northfield staff, assisted by Joel Wagar to apply for the $100,000 FRTP grant.
Faribault Council Person Carol King has been exploring match funding. Possibilities include working through former Mayor Chuck Ackerman in Senator Amy Klobuchar's Rochester office and/or use of the Faribault paving machine. Two projects were proposed in the Thunderhead Alliance stimulus suggestions.
All three cities and Rice County will enact support resolutions for the FRTP grant applications. There are currently five active projects on the Mill Towns State Trail.
The DNR has concluded research on the Dundas - Faribault Canadian Pacific line and it is being reviewed by the surveying department now. On the eastern end, property negotiations continue with the third and final property owner. Trail connection between Cannon Falls and Goodhue County Byllesby Park will be built during the summer of 2009.
Minutes
November 26, 2008
Bridge progress: Meg Otten, chair of the Mill Towns Trail friends group, spotted engineers from Yaggy Colby at the Northfield bridge site behind Walgreens today. The engineers said ground breaking would occur Monday. They can pour concrete for the abutments until the temperature falls to zero. We don't expect the steel bridge until spring.
Joel Wagar, DNR, is working with MNDOT district 6 to extend the March deadline for completion funding for the Byllesby bridge to allow for decisions to be made by Metro MNDOT on their half of the bridge in July, 2009 for construction in 2013. We will apply for the 20% match as 2010 bonding. Joel assures me that Federal match projects usually get funded by the Legislature.
When the last property next to Goodhue County Park at Lake Byllesby is again appraised and purchase is arranged by the Parks & Trails Council real estate agent, Ric Ahern, development of the trail connection between Cannon Falls city trails and the Park can be planned. Hopefully for 2009 summer construction. Funding is in place.
Minutes
November 13, 2008
At the Southeastern Minnesota Association of Regional Trail meeting today, Nov. 13, Rice County commissioner Galen Malecha heard from Joel Wagar, DNR, that the DNR engineers are currently in discussions with Canadian Pacific about what they need and our interest in their unbuilt right-of-way between Dundas and Faribault. Great news!
The MNDOT District 6 ATP has awarded the Mill Towns Trail construction costs of half of the bridge between Goodhue County Byllesby Park and Dakota County Park, east of the Lake Byllesby dam, for construction in 2013. The award is contingent upon the Metro MNDOT district funding the other half of the bridge from Dakota County to Goodhue.
The Parks & Trails Council real estate agent, Ric Ahern, is negotiating with willing landowners between Cannon Falls trails and Goodhue County Park for 2 miles of trail on the south bank of the Cannon River.
Video Featuring Mill Towns Trail Efforts
October 1, 2008
The Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota has produced a video about the Legislative efforts of citizens, including Northfielders, supporting the Mill Towns Trail. The video covers a few other subjects. NTV is showing it during October. Next week it will be on Channel 12 on Friday @ 8:05 pm; Mon.(6th) @ 7 pm; Wed. (8th) @ 8 pm.
Kevin Dahle attends Friends Meeting
September 26, 2008
Senator Kevin Dahle wrote about the Mill Towns Trail following his attendance at our Friends meeting. Here is an excerpt:
"The Friends of the Mill Towns Trail are excited about projects that may come to fruition by this time next year. I attended a meeting last night in Dundas with some of the Trails faithful describing what's next for the trail.
There are 3 projects on the horizon. A bridge will be erected across the Cannon River in Northfield near Walgreen's connecting to an underpass of Hwy 3. Some additional trail will be built west of Cannon Falls and another bridge will be built in Faribault which will include underpass access for both Hwys. 21 and Hwy 3 north of town. This is exciting stuff for trail enthusiasts. They have worked tirelessly to raise money to complete a trail providing the missing link between Mankato and Red Wing."
Minutes
May 19, 2008
Dakota County and Carleton College and Waterford Township have come to agreement about a replacement bridge for the Iron Bridge. It will be built about 200 feet upstream, west of the old one. Canada Avenue will be slightly straightened and remain gravel surface.
Randy Perkins is working toward National Historical recognition for the old bridge. The township hopes to retain it because it is one of a kind. It would make an historic crossing of the Cannon River for the Mill Towns Trail at some future date. Hopefully the new bridge will have room for an underpass on the south bank, to cross to the old bridge.
A meeting of landowners, DNR, Goodhue County, and Cannon Falls administrator took place on May 13. The south bank of the Cannon River will become trail from Cannon Falls to Goodhue County Byllesby Park with the recent bonding money. DNR personnel are working toward funding of the bridge downstream from Byllesby dam to connect Dakota and Goodhue County parks.
