The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

March 20, 2010

Lake Washington rec trail eyed

Resident association begins planning process

By Brian Ojanpa Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — Lake Washington residents have begun planning for a recreation trail that eventually would connect to other area trails and lakes.

The Lake Washington Improvement Association, in cooperation with Minnesota State University, will start a feasibility plan this spring, with implementation done in phases over several years as funding allows.

Improvement Association member Joanne Madsen said the trail idea came up at the group’s annual meeting in August.

“The first thing we did was to put out a letter to seek out interest, and the feedback was very good,” she said.

“One guy said he didn’t want it because he didn’t want his taxes to go up. But when he was told there would be no taxes, he was all for it.”

Association members think a trail is necessary for safety reasons because of increasing numbers of hikers and bikers on lake-area roads that don’t have shoulders.

Madsen said a trail could accommodate those two activities and perhaps even golf cart use.

MSU Civil Engineering students will produce preliminary plans for the trail, which could some day link with the Sakatah Trail and the Minnesota State Trail System.

The trail would be done in phases, and Madsen said getting part of a trail developed would put the association in a better position to obtain grants and government funds.

A trail would also dovetail with impending major camping upgrades to Lake Washington Park, which is due for more than $500,000 in improvements. 

Lake Washington, primarily in Le Sueur County, is about 10 miles from Mankato and is one of the largest lakes in southern Minnesota.

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