Craig Hoium, director of community development, was encouraged by a regional trail committee, Thursday night.

Friday, October 06, 2000

Craig Hoium, director of community development, was encouraged by a regional trail committee, Thursday night.

Hoium assembled local trail enthusiasts and government officials at a meeting held in Ruby Rupner Auditorium at the J. C. Hormel Nature Center.

Jerry Hickman of the Freeborn Trail Association, plus others from Freeborn County, attended.

Prairie Visions, Southern Minnesota Bike Club and other Mower County representatives were also there.

Laurie Young, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources trail planner, told how Austin is located at the junction of three state trails, currently in development: Shooting Star, Blazing Star and Prairie Wildflower.

While each is only in the early stage of development, Young said, "It’s a start, but we’re on the verge of seeing more development soon."

Hickman said the Blazing Star Trail from Albert Lea to Austin received an $800,000 appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature to acquire and develop a trail route from Albert Lea through Helmer Myre Big Island State Park to Hayward.

Craig Blummer, a DNR trails and waterways planner, told how Shooting Star Trail activists among the ranks of Prairie Visions expect to award a contract this winter to extend the trail from Lake Louise State Park to Taopi.

Joel Wagar, another DNR trails planner, reported on the Prairie Wildflower Trail designed to connect Faribault with Blooming Prairie and south to Austin.

Chandler Young, a Minnesota Department of Transportation regional planner, described how trail projects may qualify for funds set aside for transportation system enhancements.

Hoium said if the enthusiasts and applicable government officials join forces in a regional trail committee they will have "strength in numbers."

"Hopefully, we can get together on a project, like the Blazing Star Trail, and apply for funding for the portion from Austin to Moscow and show how something like that will have a regional impact," he said.

Hoium plans to contact all those who expressed an interest in serving on the regional trail committee and schedule a meeting in the future.