OutdoorMN News - DNR to hold open houses on Minnesota Valley State Trail plans

[Rick]

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold two open houses this summer to provide an update on plans for developing the Bloomington segment of the Minnesota Valley State Trail.

Both public meetings will run from 6 to 8 p.m. in Bloomington:

• Thursday, June 14, Bloomington Public Works Building, 1700 W. 98th St.
• Wednesday, July 18, Bloomington Civic Plaza in the City Council Chambers,
  1800 W. Old Shakopee Road.

The open houses will provide an opportunity to learn about the current status of the project and to provide feedback on the proposed trail layout.

The DNR is particularly interested in public input related to trail design elements such as observation areas, interpretive and wayfinding signage, and other features that have not yet been added to the trail plan. There will be no formal presentation at the meetings, but DNR Parks and Trails Division staff will be on hand along with staff from the city of Bloomington to explain plans and answer questions.

In 2014, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated roughly $2.2 million to develop a trail from the Bloomington Ferry Bridge to the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge. Since then, the DNR has been consulting with the city of Bloomington, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others to plan a trail alignment, conduct environmental review and complete other tasks necessary before construction can begin.

The Bloomington segment under development now is part of the Minnesota Valley State Trail, legislatively authorized in 1969 to run from Fort Snelling State Park to Le Sueur. More information on the project is available at www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/minnesota_valley/plans.html.

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