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Trail History
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The Central Lakes Trail, Minnesota's 23rd State Trail, is built on
an abandoned Burlington Northern Railroad corridor purchased by the
State of Minnesota in 1992. Douglas and Otter Tail Counties worked
with local volunteers and the Minnesota Departments of
Transportation and Natural Resources to finance construction of the
trail. Federal Inter-Modal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
Funds and State of Minnesota Regional Trail Grant Funds provided the
bulk of the 3.2 million dollars needed to construct the 55 mile
trail.
 The
project took 12 years to complete and involved many partners
including: The National Rails to Trails Conservancy The Bikes Belong
Coalition Chambers of Commerce & Service Clubs Township & City
Governments Private Foundations & Businesses and cycling enthusiasts
from communities all along the corridor.
The Central Lakes Trail was dedicated in August, 2005 with
celebration rides originating in Osakis and Fergus Falls. The riders
met at Central Park in Alexandria for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The picture above is from the "Driving of the Green Spike" when the
Central Lakes Trail and the Lake Wobegon Trail were finally
connected in August 2007.
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