 Summer 2022 Volume 5, Issue 3
SUMMER: /sum·mer | \’se-mer \ Noun; “the hottest of the four seasons; at the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest.”
 Summer Activities in the Parks
- Archery
- Biking
- Boating/Canoeing/Kayaking
- Disc Golf
- Fishing
- Horseback Riding
- Picnics
- Rock Climbing
- Scuba Diving
- Swimming
- Youth Camping
Use the Park Search Interactive Map to find the parks with these amenities!
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Swimming in the Parks
- Quarry #2
- Quarry #11
- Warner Lake
- Lake Koronis Regional Park
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During the summer, water samples are collected at Quarry Park, Warner Lake, and Kraemer Lake-Wildwood for E.coli testing. Water quality and temperature readings are also monitored.
The Parks Department partnered with St. Cloud State University to test an algae bloom in Quarry #2. It was determined that the algae present was in fact a blue green algae but it was a species that does not produce toxins.
E. coli levels were all in the normal range. The water temperature for the quarries and lakes were very similar; averaging around 75 degrees for the season.
Quarry Park Vehicle Parking Permits
During the summer months of June, July, and August, there were 17,403 Vehicle Parking Permits sold.
Picnics in the Parks
Over 3,500 park users reserved the picnic shelters for picnics, family reunions, birthdays, graduation parties, weddings and more.
The most popular is the Open Air Shelter at Warner Lake.
Shelters can be reserved in the Online Recreation Catalog under Facility Rentals tab.
Summer Events in the Parks
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HikeHoppers: Park Play Outdoor Youth Camps and Hike with a Naturalist Series
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Warner Lake: Clearwater Triathlon; Elevate Summer BBQ; Mainly Marathons
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Lake Wobegon Trail: Purple Pride 5K; Holdingford 5K; Rail Trails 100; Caramel Roll Ride; Lady Slipper Nature Ride; Tour of Saints
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Quarry Park: Mainly Marathons; ATS Rock Your Sole trail Run; Youth Rock Climbing
If your organization wishes to hold a special event that will be open to the public, that will raise funds, or requires a registration fee, please complete a "Special Event Application" in the Online Recreation Catalog.
 Archery Events in the Parks
- Great River Archery Club's Summer League
- Granite City Junior Olympic Archery Development Club
- St. Cloud Park and Recreation Archery Sessions
- Great River Archery Club's Spring 3D Archery Shoot
- Great River Archery Club's Summer 3D Archery Shoot
- Minnesota State Archery Association's Tournament
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Maintenance in the Parks
During the summer there are 4 Full Time Maintenance Staff, 3 Seasonal Maintenance, and 14 Seasonal Caretakers to help keep the Parks Clean, Safe, Scenic, and Functional for the Public. A few examples of the various responsibilities are:
Caretaker Activities: cleaning restrooms and emptying garbage
General Maintenance: mowing, landscaping, bridges, and culverts
Noxious Weed Control: spraying, brush mowing, or burning of Noxious Weeds
Building Maintenance: repair and maintain structures, bridges, and buildings
Tree Care: planting, cutting, removing
Equipment Maintenance: repairing and maintaining equipment
General Weed & Brush Control: spraying, brush mowing, or burning
Water: docks, beaches, fishing piers, access, buoys
Safety Inspections: Fire Extinguishers, Eye Wash, First Aid Kits, Playgrounds, etc.
Maintenance Projects in the Parks
Lake Sylvia Shoreline Restoration
 A storm at the end of summer 2021 left Lake Sylvia County Park in disarray, leaving behind significant washouts, sediment deposits into the lake, branches, and down trees.
The Stearns County Parks Department worked with Stearns County Environmental Services, Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to fix and mitigate future problems.
The work completed included:
- fixing and reinforcing the existing retaining wall
- establishing a berm to keep the water moving through the existing drainage way
- placing cedar trees in the drainage way to assist with slowing the water and creating pools for sediment retention
- removing the deposited sediment from the lake
- repairing/stabilizing the shoreline using cedar tree revetments
- stabilizing around 28,000 square feet of upland area by planting native grass, forbs, shrubs and trees
- parking area was also re-located and a new path to the fishing pier was established
A Fresh Coat of Stain
Mississippi River County Park's entrance sign received a fresh coat of stain and some bright paint. The Before and After is impressive.
  The Picnic Shelters at Two Rivers Lake and Quarry Park were stained this summer too.
 
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Bridge Deck at Warner Lake
The bridge deck near the Nature Center at Warner Lake County Park had seen its days and was starting to show significant weathering. This was expected as the bridge was installed in 1992. Maintenance Staff replaced all of the boards making it look like new again.
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Culverts under the Trails
So many culverts! In fact, this summer we started a Culvert Inventory Project. We're up to 100 and still counting!
Culverts provide cross drainage for water to get from one side of the trail to the other without causing damage. However, culverts also need to be cleaned out and also need to be replaced. It was a busy summer for culvert work!
Grant Applications and Awards
The Stearns County Park Department applied for two grants through the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission for project funding for Quarry Park and for Kraemer Lake - Wildwood.
- Quarry Park & Nature Preserve is Stearns County’s most popular park with over 130,000 visitors each year. Over the years, the increase in visitors to Quarry Park have caused areas around Quarry 2 to erode. The erosion is caused by the foot traffic through one of the few ways to get to the large cliff jump. The erosion encroachment of the large granite rock pile on the southeast end of Quarry 2 will cause an increase in safety concerns if not managed within the next few years. Funds will assist in the cost of relocating approximately 1,000 cubic yards of granite blocks, widening the trail, and strengthening the slope. The estimated total project cost is $227,000. The proposed grant request is $170,250 with a local match of $56,750 (25%).
- The proposed 2022 Phase 1 Kraemer Lake - Wildwood County Park development project items were extracted from the three phases identified in the Kraemer Lake – Wildwood Master Plan. The newly identified Phase 1 Development includes enhanced entry to the park using Kipper Road, parking lot, turnaround and light fixtures, picnic areas, picnic shelters, restrooms, fishing pier, nature-based playground, non-motorized boat launch, and paved trail access to amenities. The estimated total project cost is $1,571,794.44. The proposed grant request is $1,178,845.83, with a local match of $392,948.61 (25%).
The Stearns County Park Department received $2,500 from the Minnesota Trail Riders Association for maintenance on the Dairyland Trail. Over 70 tons of unwashed limestone were delivered to the Dairyland Trail. Park staff reloaded and then spread the material on the trail. The limestone surface is more suitable for horses.
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Stearns County Parks Department partnered with Sherburne and Isanti County and received $37,000 from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission's Connecting People to the Outdoors Grant to purchase a fleet of cross-country boots, skis, and poles; snowshoes and poles, and an enclosed trailer for storage. The goal is to have a variety of events that reach as many citizens are possible to provide the opportunities to try snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Vandalism in the Parks
Unfortunately, the parks are not immune to vandalism. If you see something broken or in need of repair; signs that are missing or vandalized; or just fallen trees or branches, please let us know: Report a Problem
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Living in the Parks
   
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