 Fall 2024 Volume 7, 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."
ARPA Park and Trail Enhancement Funding
 Funding was made available to Townships and Small Cities for Park Enhancement Projects (Cities with a population of less than 400 residents). The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will be used for development, replacement or improvement of parks, recreational facilities, playgrounds, trails, or open space. A 50% match was required by each applicant.
The Stearns County Board approved fully funding all the ARPA Park and Trail Enhancement requests on November 19, 2024.
- Meire Grove was awarded $14,750.00 for an addition of a pickleball court and a couple benches at the St. John’s Community Park.
- City of St. Rosa was awarded $8,475 for additional seating around the softball field at the St. Rosa City Park.
- New Munich was awarded $43,617 for pickleball courts, a horseshoe pit, a chess table, picnic tables, picnic shelter, sidewalk, and a warming house at Jaycees Park.
- Paynesville Township was awarded $25,000 for the Glacial Lakes Trail Extension Phase 1 Project.
- Raymond Township was awarded $20,000 for a new playground across from the Padua Pub.
- Spring Hill was awarded $50,000 to replace the grandstand and bleachers at Spring Hill Ballpark.
- Wakefield Township was awarded $50,000 to add trails, disc golf course, and playground equipment at Sportsman’s Park.
The total cost of all the projects was $491,019.21. The County Board approved $211,842.21 of ARPA funds to assist with these Park and Trail Enhancements.
Chain of Lakes County Park
 Chain of Lakes County Park is located at 16163 County Road 49, Cold Spring, MN 56320.
Pheasants Forever and many other agencies joined forces to create the new Stearns County Park along the Sauk River Chain of Lakes, just south of the city of Cold Spring.
In August the Park Department held a public meeting to gather feedback from the public. The online survey was open through September 6, 2024.
The Stearns County Park Department continues to develop a management plan. If all goes well, the park could possibly be ready to open in late summer or fall of 2025.
Next Steps:
- Begin Prairie and Wetland Restoration
- Formulate rules, regulations, and update Park Ordinances
- Develop parking area
- Complete site cleanup
- Open for Hunting in Fall 2025
Maintenance Projects
Warner Lake County Park
- New plastic edging was placed around the playground.
- Pea rock was added to the play area.
- Grass seed was planted outside the play area.
- Chip sealing was completed at the boat landing.
- Chip sealing was completed at the beach parking lot.
- Twelve loads of beach sand were delivered.
- Storm damage trees were cleaned up in campground from the summer storms.
Two Rivers Lake County Park
Maintenance staff replaced 130 feet of boardwalk. The boardwalk leads to the fishing pier on Two Rivers Lake.
Lake Wobegon Trail
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Repairs were made to the retaining wall by the Schwinghammer Bridge.
Repairs on the steps and dock will be done in the Spring.
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Soo Line Trail
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Four culverts were replaced on the undeveloped section of the Soo Line Trail east of New Munich. |
Natural Resources Projects
Oak Savanna Restoration Project
Stearns County Parks and Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) are currently working on an Oak Savanna Restoration Project in the southern section of Quarry Park.
The project includes addressing multiple invasive species and seeding native prairie.
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Chain of Lakes Prairie Restoration
Stearns County Parks and Pheasants Forever are developing restoration plans for multiple wetland areas and approximately 113 acres of prairie.
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Nature Conservancy
As part of a larger project to restore northern Minnesota forests and help create climate ready woodlands, the Nature Conservancy collected a cooler full of northern pin oak acorns from Warner Lake County Park.
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Buckthorn Removal Event
Conservation Minnesota hosted a Buckthorn Removal Event at Rockville County Park in October.
Seventeen volunteers focused their efforts around a rock outcrop which supports a small prickly pear cactus colony. Stearns County Parks provided guidance, tools, and herbicides.
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Grant Projects
- Rockville property acquisition
- Kraemer Lake - Wildwood Grant-In-Aid Ski Trail
- Kraemer Lake - Wildwood Engineering for Phase 1 Development
- Paynesville property acquisition
- Beaver Island Trail Extension
- Federal Recreation Trail Grant for Lake Wobegon Trail
- Connecting People to the Outdoors Ski and Snowshoe Trailer
- Legacy Grant application for Mountain Bike Trails at Quarry Park
- Quarry 2 Erosion Control
Fall Events
- Caramel Apple Ride
- Park Play Youth Camps
- Rock Your Sole 5K
- Sacred Heart School 1K and 5K
- Walk For Hope
- Angel Reins 5K/1 Mile Walk/Run
- School Field Trips
- Scout Camping
- Rock Climbing
- Waterfest at College of St. Benedicts
- Girl Scouts Bat Interpretive Hike
- Community Education History of Quarry Park
- Bat Week on Social Media
Ski Patrol
Ski Patrol Registration began on October 16, 2024. Ski Patrol is a group of volunteers that patrol the cross-country ski trails from December through February and report on the conditions. Cross-country ski trails are in:
- Quarry Park and Nature Preserve
- Warner Lake County Park
- Mississippi River County Park
- Kraemer Lake - Wildwood County Park
Register for Ski Patrol: Online Recreation Catalog
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Upcoming Events:
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2025 Moonlight Ski
Friday, January 3, 2025 from 5 pm - 8 pm
Quarry Park, 1802 County Road 137, Waite Park, MN 56387
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