With two-thirds of the Luverne Loop finished, city leaders are making plans for the third and final phase of the trail that will close the loop where it connects with the Blue Mound Trail on East Main Street.
Funding is coming together with a recent grant approval of $150,000 from the Minnesota DNR to cover a third of the projected $485,000 Phase 3 cost.
The Trail Connections grant is awarded to a project that connects residential areas to desirable locations, such as parks, open spaces or historical places in communities.
Phase 3 of the Loop will continue east along Hatting Street from Highway 75 where the paved trail currently ends near Security Savings Bank on South Highway 75.
The 1.15-mile route of Phase 3 follows the south property line of conservation farmland the city recently purchased from Warren Baker.
It winds around the east side of the wastewater treatment plant near the Rock River along the west bank near the outfield of Redbird Field ball diamond.
The Loop ultimately connects with the Blue Mound Trail at the intersection of Main Street and Blue Mound Avenue where city leaders are planning to develop a recreational trailhead for Loop users and Rock River paddlers.
Bike repair station in place at trailhead
Meanwhile, Papik Motors and Heartland Chevrolet donated a bike repair station for the cycling public at the corner of Blue Mound Avenue and East Main Street.
The equipment is located on the former Casey’s lot and includes air for flat tires, tire repair kits and a station to prop a bike upside down in order to replace a tire or perform some other type of maintenance.
“We’ve had the equipment for quite some time and decided to get it set up so people could use it,” Gary Papik said.
The city owns the former Casey’s lot, and city staff installed the equipment and set it up for public use.
The location will someday serve as a trailhead for bicyclists, kayakers and canoers, with rental equipment and other services.
Phase 3 construction, set to start in 2020, will be broken into two segments focusing first on the .75-mile north segment between Main Street and the south edge of the waste water treatment plant.
The city owns all the property along the proposed trail, which will speed up the easement process.
Loop background
In early planning sessions several years ago, city leaders discussed ways that a bike path can improve a community — both in economic ways and in ways that enhance quality of life.
For one thing, city planners hope the route will expose users to community gems like The Lake, pocket parks and local businesses.
Also, communities with lengthy trails — 13 miles or longer — are often destinations for bicyclists, so the Loop would be another reason to draw people to town.
The Luverne Loop, when complete, will be 7 miles long, and it connects to the 6-mile Blue Mound Trail that carries hikers and bikers to the Blue Mounds State Park.
Phases 1 and 2 circle the city’s northwest and west side, currently ending at the intersection of Gabrielson Road at South Highway 75.
Phase 3 will complete the Loop and connect with the Blue Mound Trail at the intersection of East Main Street and Blue Mound Avenue.
Total Loop construction is estimated at more than $1.5 million, with a good share of the costs being covered by state and federal grants.