 Summer 2023 Volume 6, 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.”
 Parks and Trails Master Plan Survey
The opportunity to provide input through the Parks and Trails Master Plan Survey continued through the summer. Stearns County Parks is working with the consulting firm, HKGi, to complete a Master Plan for Stearns County Parks and Trails. The County’s parks and trails provide local and regional facilities that cater to users from across the county and outside the county.
Additional opportunities to provide input will be available soon.
Archery Events
- Minnesota State Archery Association's State Tournament
- Great River Archery Club’s 3D Archery Shoot
- Granite City Junior Olympics Archery Development’s Outdoor Season
- Great River Archery Club’s Summer Archery League
Youth Events
- HIKEhoppers' Park Play
- Girl Scouts Day Camp
- Boy Scouts Camping and Merit Badge
Goats!
Stearns County Parks is partnering with Great River Greening, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Minnesota DNR. Funding for the project is provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund and the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.
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Goats made their debut at Quarry Park in June. They are a part of the restoration efforts towards restoring the native forest. The focus of the project is the removal of non-native invasive buckthorn through a 3-year sustained effort of cutting, spraying, and goat browsing.
 Events
- Stearns County Summer Youth Event
- Road to Summer Camp Series
- ATS Rock Your Sole Trail Run 5K/1K
- Youth for Christ's Rock Climbing
Visitors
Based off the number of vehicle parking permits sold, approximately 81,000 people visited Quarry Park this summer. That's an increase from previous summers. All the 90 degree days this summer made the swimming quarries very popular!
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Prairie Restoration Areas were very popular too!
Pollinators (Snowberry Clearwing Moth-Hermaris diffinis) are loving the native plants (Purple Bergamot) at Quarry Park!
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Maintenance Projects
The Maintenance staff completed a few projects at Quarry Park this summer:
- Painted the Restroom at Swim Quarry #2
- Painted the Restroom at Swim Quarry #11
- Replaced a ladder at Swim Quarry #2
- Replaced the Railing at the Derrick Exhibit
- Replaced a boardwalk by Swim Quarry #2
- Replaced a boardwalk between Quarry #13 and Quarry #14
 
Maintenance Projects
The boardwalk on the trail to the canoe campsite was replaced.
Maintenance Projects
- Pine trees removed by the shelter
- Building Facilities replaced the roof on the restroom
- Building Facilities replaced the roof on the open air shelter
Maintenance Projects
The boardwalk and fishing pier were damaged over the winter. Maintenance staff built and installed a new 60-foot roll-in dock and a 24-foot boardwalk. These were attached to the original fishing pier.
Events
- Sheriff's Youth Day Camp
- Graniteman's Clearwater Triathlon
- Road to Summer Camp Series
- HIKEhoppers' Park Play
- Boy Scouts Camping
- Girl Scouts Camping
Events
- 30 For Freedom Run
- Caramel Roll Ride
- Lady Slipper Nature Ride
- Holdingford Daze 5k
- Tour of Saints
- Road to Summer Camp Series
- Senior Games 5K & 10K
- Purple Pride 5K Run/Walk
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Maintenance Projects
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Seal coating was completed on the section from Albany to the Morrison County Line.
Crack Filling was completed on the entire trail.
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Two culverts were replaced near mile post 118 west of Sauk Centre.
Beaver Island Trail
Construction began early September on the Beaver Island Trail between Opportunity Drive and Clearwater.
Approximately four miles of abandon railroad right-of-way along County Road 75 will become a 10-foot-wide grade separated bituminous surfaced recreational trail.
The County’s section of the Beaver Island Trail will connect the City of St. Cloud’s section of the Beaver Island Trail near Opportunity Drive to the current trail in the City of Clearwater.
Funding for the Project
- Federal Transportation Alternatives Program
- Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission
- Stearns County CIP Funds
Fall Volunteer Opportunities
Open bluebird houses at Kraemer Lake - Wildwood
Open bluebird houses on the Lake Wobegon Trail
Pre-grooming preparation of winter trails
- Quarry Park
- Warner Lake
- Kraemer Lake - Wildwood
- Mississippi River
- Rockville
Sign up to volunteer: Online Recreation Catalog
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