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Amid construction planning for major housing and industry developments in Luverne, progress is quietly continuing on the Luverne Loop trail.
Phase 1 of the trail is complete. It starts at the Veterans Home pond and circles the northwest neighborhoods of town and ends up at Dodge Street west of the school.
Phase 2 — 1.7 miles — is shaping up for a late 2018 completion.
It starts where Phase 1 let off on Dodge and continues along the west edge of town along Poplar Creek, some pocket parks, around The Lake and the ice arena and then to Highway 75 at the Exchange State Bank.
Construction crews have concrete poured from Highway 75 to the west along Gabrielson Road.
Phase 3 is still in the design phase, but ultimately the Loop will end up back at East Main Street near the City Park and at the start of the Blue Mound Trail on the former Casey’s property.
Background
The six-mile $2 million paved trail connects the city to the seven-mile Blue Mound Trail that goes over and around the park, with an option to branch off to the top of the 90-foot cliff line for a panoramic view of Luverne.
•Phase 1 in 2016 cost nearly $700,000. That includes $100,000 for improvements at The Lake site, $20,000 for signs to direct people to the trail, and $447,378 for work on the trail itself.
Some of the 2016 trail costs were offset by a $150,000 local trail connection grant.
•Phase 2 was bid by Thorstad Companies at $747,569, but a $598,056 state grant will bring the local investment down to less than $150,000. Phase 2 includes parking at The Lake for $60,000 and way-finding signs for $20,000.
•Phase 3 plans are still in the design phase.
A Luverne Loop Capital Project Fund has been set up to pay for capital costs associated with the trail, and that five-year capital plan is reviewed and adjusted annually.
Other possible Loop expenses include $50,000 for a shelter at The Lake, $65,000 for landscaping (possibly a berm) at The Lake, $60,000 for playground equipment along the trail, and $25,000 for way-finding signs.
Expenses associated with a trailhead, possibly at Redbird Field, include $90,000 for a sidewalk, $100,000 for a restroom, $65,000 for trailhead shelter (with electrical wiring).