 Fall 2022 Volume 5, Issue 4
FALL / AUTUMN: au·tumn (‘ôdem) noun; the third season of the year, when crops and fruits are gathered and leaves fall. "The countryside is ablaze with color in autumn."
Fall Cleaning
When the swimmers have all gone home, it's time for some Fall Cleaning! The swim buoys and ladders are put away; summer supplies are sorted and packed away; benches, tables, archery bags, trails, beaches, piers, etc. are cleaned up and repaired as needed. Even the septic tanks get pumped!
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The Warner Lake County Park swimming beach was “cleaned up” and replenished with more sand in preparation for 2023.
Sand was hauled into the Parks Maintenance Yard in preparation to be used on icy park roads.
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Dairyland Trail
The Parks Department received $2,500 from the Minnesota Trail Riders Association. The money was used for limestone on the Dairyland Trail. In addition to walkers and bikers, the trail is also designed for horses; limestone is preferred over other aggregate surfaces.
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Culverts are continuously being cleaned out, repaired, and replaced along the Stearns County Trails.
There were four culverts along the Dairyland Trail that were replaced. One of the culverts was 60” in diameter by 48 feet long. The new plastic culvert replaced an old concrete one.
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Lake Wobegon Trail
 The Parks Department received a $25,000 Federal Recreational Trail Grant through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to assist with funding for maintenance on the Lake Wobegon Trail. Crack filling was completed along the entire trail. Air patching and seal coating were completed on the section from Sauk Centre going West to the County Line.
The Parks Department received an additional grant from the Federal Recreational Trail Grant Program to crack fill the entire Lake Wobegon Trail and air patch and seal coat from Albany to the Holdingford Trailhead. This project will be completed in 2023.
 A section of the trail between County Road 2 and County Road 3 in St. Joseph was repaired and new asphalt was applied.
Warner Lake Nature Center
Repairs were made outside of the Nature Center at Warner Lake County Park in Clearwater.
The water pump was replaced, new water lines were installed, and the septic system was upgraded.
The Nature Center is a fully enclosed building that can be reserved year round. There is seating for 100 people with a complete kitchen and flushable toilets. Reservations can be made through the Online Recreation Catalog.
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Bench Donations
Thanks to generous donors, benches are placed along the trails for park users to relax and take in the views.
A bench along the Lake Wobegon Trail near Freeport was added this fall.
Contact the Park Office if you're interested in making a donation.
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Family Fall Fling
Family Fall Fling was held on Saturday, October 15 at Quarry Park. The morning temperature was a little cool but almost 100 families were able to try their luck at casting, rock climbing, and more!
Thank you to everyone that participated!
Central Minnesota Girl Scouts: Interested in Becoming a Girl Scout?
Department of Natural Resources: Learn About Native Animals
Eric Voight: Learn How to Slackline
Lake Wobegon Trail Association: Become a Friend of the Trail
Mid-Minnesota Cycling Club: Check Out the New Trail
Prairie Wood Environmental Learning Center: Rock Climbing
Soil & Water Conservation District: Aquatic Insects
St. Cloud Disc Golf Club: Test Your Skills in Disc Golf
Stearns County Emergency Management: Winter Hazard Awareness
Stearns County Parks Department: Learn About the Parks and Trails of Stearns County
Stearns County Public Health: Make and take peanut butter bird feeders
Stearns County Sheriff Department: Meet Your Sheriff
YMCA: Learn More About the Organization
Coborns: Donated bottled water, fruit snacks, peanut butter, and bird seed.
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Kraemer Lake-Wildwood Buckthorn Removal
Stearns County Parks is lucky to have a park that has little to no evidence of buckthorn. Buckthorn is a non-native brush that outcompetes native vegetation. The Carlson Family hosted two buckthorn removal events at Kraemer Lake-Wildwood in October with a total of 8 people that volunteered for a total of 24 hours. Thanks again for the hard work.
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More Fall Events
Lake Wobegon Trail
Caramel Apple Ride
Sacred Heart School 1K/5K
Warner Lake County Park
Clearwater Travel Plaza's Walk for Hope
Angel Reins Stable 5K
Bravane CX Cyclocross
Hikehoppers' Park Play Day Camp
Hikehoppers' She Ascends Wellness Treat
Mississippi River County Park
Hikehoppers' HIKE @ Night
Veterans Day at Quarry Park: Free Parking was offered for All Veterans on November 11.
National Take a Hike Day: Park Users were encouraged to Take a Hike on November 17.
Thanksgiving Day: Free Parking at Quarry Park was offered for both Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 25.
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Hunting Season
Even though hunting is not allowed in any Stearns County Park or across any County Trail, we encourage you to wear blaze orange, red, or other brightly colored clothing.
Someone got the message that Quarry Park is the safest place to be during hunting season!
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Parks, Trails, & Recreation
Comprehensive Master Plan
Request for Proposals for the Parks Master Plan were sent out in September. The project was awarded to HKGi in October. This plan will provide short and long-range planning for the Stearns County Parks Department through solicitation, compilation and interpretation of community stakeholder input and system planning standards.
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Beaver Island Trail Development Update
- The City of St. Cloud will connect the Beaver Island Trail from the McStop area to Opportunity Drive.
- Stearns County Parks will connect the Trail from Opportunity Drive to the City of Clearwater.
- The Engineering Plans are almost complete.
- Construction should begin sometime next summer.
Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission Announces Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2024 Legacy Funds
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Kraemer Lake-Wildwood County Park Phase 1 Development Project
The Phase 1 Development Project includes enhancing entry to the park using Kipper Road, constructing a parking lot, turnaround and installing light fixtures, developing picnic areas and picnic shelters, restrooms, a fishing pier, nature-based playground, a non-motorized boat launch, and paved trail access to amenities. The GMRPTC has recommended the full request of $1,175,846 with the county providing $392,948 in matching funds. Anticipate starting this project in 2024. Read more Phase 1 Kraemer Lake-Wildwood
Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, Quarry 2 Erosion Project
The GMRPTC has recommended $170,250 with a county match of $57,750 for the Quarry 2 Erosion Project. Increased visitor use has 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 high jump at Quarry 2. Approximately 1000 cubic yards of discarded granite blocks will be re-positioned to create a retaining wall, increase user safety, and stabilize the eroding bank around the edge of the swimming quarry. These funds will also be used to create a safer path to the high jump, an opening for picnic tables and a viewing area. Anticipate starting this project fall of 2023. Read more Quarry 2 Erosion Control
 Winter Trails
Even though there was an early snowfall, there wasn't quite enough snow to set any cross country ski tracks. Groomers did go out and pack ski trails and winter walking trails.
Winter walking trails are marked as Multi-Use Trails at Quarry Park, Mississippi River, Kraemer Lake-Wildwood, and Warner Lake. Packed Multi-Use Trails are also in Rockville and Two Rivers Lake County Parks.
Ski Patrol Volunteers
Registration for Ski Patrol began October 12. Ski Patrol is a group of volunteers that patrol the cross-country ski trails from December through February and report on the conditions.
The outstanding quality of our cross-country ski trails wouldn't be possible without the help of our dedicated Ski Patrol Volunteers!
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Mark your Calendars
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