320-243-3186    •    jeffmarb@lakedalelink.net

New in 2006... A trail connecting the city of Paynesville with Veteran's Memorial Park - the city park/beach on Lake Koronis - will be constructed this fall. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday, Sept. 25, with (from left) trail committee chair Jeff Bertram, township maintenance worker Mike Jensen, township clerk Don Wiese, public works director Ron Mergen, township chairman Don Pietsch, city trail committee member Harlan Beek, assistant Stearns County highway engineer Jodi Teich, city administrator Renee Eckerly, and city engineer Chuck DeWolf of Bolton & Menk. Two new sections of trail will be built in 2006, and more federal funding has been secured to complete the trail on the south side of Lake Koronis. Work on trail between city and lake has begun. Koronis Trail will add another section in 2007. Pictures of the second portion of the trail, which runs along Breezewood, Crestridge and NW Koronis roads. This section of trail was finished late in 2003. The first phase of the Lake Koronis Recreational Trail was dedicated on Saturday, July 13, 2002. The first half mile of the trail is dedicated to the late Richard Mathiowetz. Read the full story of the dedication here.

Leave the roadways, escape the shopping, turn off the television, shut down the video games, and escape the pace of everyday life...

COME OUTDOORS
and explore the Lake Koronis Trail, Paynesville's safe, scenic, accessible, multi-purpose, recreational pathway. Now your adventures can start so close to home.

The trail provides a safe, non-motorized bicycle/pedestrian trail that will connect the city of Paynesville with Lake Koronis and will eventually make a scenic loop around Lake Koronis. Phase one has opened along Old Lake Road (shown at right). It was dedicated in July 2002. Another section of the trail was opened in 2003 along Crestridge, Breezewood and NW Koronis Road.

The phase currently being worked on will connect Paynesville with the trail on Old Lake Road. The Joint Powers Board is in the process of getting easements for this section of the trail and developing a construction plan with construction slated for 2007.

The fourth phase will be to connect Paynesville with the Glacial Lakes State Trail, north of Paynesville.

The trail is beautiful all year long for bikers, hikers, in-line skaters, skiers, runners, leisure strollers, and walkers. When complete, visitors will enjoy over 25 miles of trail. Access to the trail will be available by designated parking areas at three different points along the trail corridor.

You are sure to pick up a little education along the way because the trail extending around Lake Koronis will be an "ecological classroon" - wetlands, rivers, carp traps, bogs, birds, and plant life. Other sites include the public city beach, Indian mounds, Lake Koronis Regional Park and more. To see more pictures, go to points of interest.

A tepee sits atop the Indian mounds overlooking Lake Koronis.