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St. Cloud State University
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Trail to expand north
By Blair Schlichte
Published:
Monday, February 3, 2003
Media Credit: Blair Schlichte
St. Benedict�s student Debra Marrone and Mike Dullinger, St. Steven, enjoy their walk along the Mississippi River on the Beaver Island Trail. Plans to expand the trail under Highway 23, past the Civic Center and ultimately all the way to Hester Park are underway.
The Beaver Island Trail near SCSU will extend its scenic route this spring, giving St. Cloud more beautiful things to see while on a nature walk, lengthy jog or family bike ride.
The trail is located south of the 10th Street Bridge at the southern edge of campus. Its path will soon continue north, passing under the Highway 23 Desoto Bridge and ending at the St. Cloud Civic Center.
Debra Marrone, Cold Spring resident, has been on the Beaver Island Trail three times, biking and walking.
"I like to escape," Marrone said. "There's nothing like walking by the river and the dam."
Currently, the path is 2.5 miles long. Mike Dullinger of St. Steven thinks it is a good idea that the trail is being extended.
"For runners, it should be further," he said. "People could also come out and make a day out of it."
The construction of a newly paved path does not seem as complicated as it sounds, but many contractors know otherwise.
Originally, there were eight general contractors planning on bidding, but only one followed through. Veit Company Inc. of Rogers was awarded a $1.7 million contract by St. Cloud City Council members last Monday.
The completion of the new section is made possible by city, state and federal funds. $1.3 million in funding will come from federal and state grants; the remainder will be paid for by a half-cent local sales tax this spring.
This is a big project and it will prove difficult with its location along the riverbank.
"The banks are very unstable and parts of it could fall into the river," Landy said.
Using machinery for construction will be tricky as well because of the limited access to the work.
There was also talk of expanding north of the Civic Center to Hester Park and south from the Country Club to Warner Lake County Park in Clearwater. Right now, however, that would be too expensive.
"This is a big project and we're doing it in pieces," Landy said.
When questions arose whether the path would burden possible future expansion of the Civic Center, Landy commented that it would only enhance the center and add to its value.
"This is a positive thing," Landy said. "Where the trail would fit in, won't impact the expansion (of the Civic Center)."
Students like the idea of expanding the Beaver Island Trail but concerns of safety are more of an issue. SCSU Senior Leah Ellis doesn't use the trail often but would like to.
"I don't feel safe," Ellis said. "I like to run, but I think they should have lights or emergency poles."
Dullinger would also like to see lights.
"With lights, it would be safer, plus it would be nice with the shorter days."
Construction of Beaver Island Trail will start this spring and will finish by the end of the year.
