 Winter 2024 - 2025 Volume 8, Issue 1
WINTER: win•ter (win-t r)
- noun: the season between autumn and spring; "the colder half of the year”
- verb: to pass the winter; “winters in the Caribbean”
- adjective: of, relating to, or suitable for winter; “a winter vacation”
 Cross Country Ski Trails
- A little bit of snow
- A little bit of grooming
- A little bit of skiing
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Multi-Use Trails
Multi-Use Trails are packed trails that can be used for:
- Winter Walking
- Snowshoeing
- Dog Walking
- Fat Tire Bicycles
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Multi-Use Trails can be found:
- Rockville County Park
- Two Rivers Lake County Park
- Kraemer Lake-Wildwood
- Mississippi River
- Quarry Park
- Warner Lake
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Ice Fishing
Stearns County Parks with access to lakes:
- Lake Koronis Regional Park
- Lake Sylvia Wayside
- Two Rivers Lake County Park
- Upper Spunk County Park
- Warner Lake County Park
Quarry Park: Trout Fishing in designated quarries
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Ash Trees at Rockville County Park
You may have noticed that a lot of ash trees have disappeared at Rockville. Unfortunately they were infected by the Emerald Ash Borer.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive forest insect responsible for the deaths of millions of ash trees. Emerald Ash Borer infests and kills both weak and healthy ash trees. The spread of Emerald Ash Borer will have a serious impact on our forests and communities. Once symptoms have started to show, trees generally die within one to three years.
Dead trees become extremely dangerous and must be removed.
More information on EAB can be found on the MN DNR website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/eab/index.html
 Maintenance in the Parks
- Tree trimming
- Brush cutting
- Equipment Maintenance
- Yearly Inspections
- Safety Trainings
- Project Planning
- Grooming
- Snow Removal
Public Events
Moonlight Ski was cancelled due to extremely cold wind chills and icy conditions.
Globe at Night was held at Warner Lake Nature Center on January 28. Conservation Minnesota hosted the event. After a presentation about noise and light pollution, participants went outside to collect data and view the night sky.
Ski and Snowshoe Lessons at Mississippi River County Park: The Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota offered free ski lessons and Stearns County Parks offered free equipment rentals on February 9, 2025.
Stearns Nordic Ski Sampler: Stearns County Parks and the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota encourage you to Ski and Sample the trails in the four parks with ski trails from February 9 through March 9, 2025. Prizes are available. How to Register
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Wildwood Ranch SNOWSTOMP was held February 15, 2025 at the Maple Syrup Sugar House in Kraemer - Lake Wildwood County Park. The SNOWSTOMP is the official start of the Maple Syrup Season.
Coming Soon: Maple Syrup Tours will be held March 23 and 30, 2025. Registration is required. More information.
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2025: A New Year
2025 Park Commission Members:
- District 1 Michael Mullin
- District 2 Mark Thompson
- District 3 Orville Willenbring
- District 4 Shannon Cox
- District 5 Amy Scherping, Vice Chair
- At Large Margaret Arnold, Chair
- Planning Commissioner Richard Blenkush
- County Commissioner Joe Perske
Park Commission meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM at the Park Office.
The Park Commission Meeting Agendas and Minutes are on the Stearns County Meetings on Demand webpage.
 2025 Parks Services and Fees
Open-Air Shelters at Mississippi River, Rockville, Spring Hill, and Two Rivers Lake
- $60 per group, per day; 50% surcharge on weddings
Warner Lake Open-Air Shelter
- $90 per group, per day; 50% surcharge on weddings
Warner Lake Nature Center
- $125 for the first 4 hours (50% discount for nonprofit groups)
- $25 for each additional hour; 50% surcharge for weddings
Quarry Park & Nature Preserve Parking Permits
- $ 5 per day for the Daily Vehicle Permit Labor Day thru Memorial Day
- $10 per day for the Daily Vehicle Permit Memorial Day thru Labor Day
- $25 for the Annual Vehicle Permit
- $15 for a Bus, Trailer, or Limo
- $10 for Failure to Purchase Parking Permit Labor Day thru Memorial Day
- $15 for Failure to Purchase Parking Permit Memorial Day thru Labor Day
Event Revenue Sharing Fees
- 10% of the gross registration fee (not to exceed $500) for For-profit organizations
- 5% of the gross registration fee (not to exceed $200) for Non-profit organizations
Acquisitions, Planning, and Development
Acquisition:
Rockville County Park: Property documents were finalized for the 19 acres adjacent to the park. A 20 x 60 shed was included with the property.
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Planning:
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Chain of Lakes County Park: Prairie and Wetlands Restoration plans are being developed. Prairie seeding was completed in February. A Phase 1 Archeological Study needs to be completed.
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Quarry Park: A grant was awarded for the engineering and construction to resolve the erosion problem at Quarry 2.
Development:
Kraemer Lake - Wildwood County Park: SRF Consulting Group was hired to assist with the engineering and design work for Phase I Elements:
- Entrance Road
- Entry Gate
- Parking Spaces
- Vegetative Buffer on Property Line
- Soft Surface Trails
- Scout Activities Site
- Play Area
- Restored Prairie with Pollinator Species
- Picnic Shelters
- Canoe Launch
- Fishing Pier
- Vault Restroom
There will be an opportunity for public comments.
Sign up to receive Kraemer Lake - Wildwood County Park Development Updates.
 Thinking Spring and Summer?
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