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.