Scandia outdoor lovers plan
recreational trails

By Mary Bailey, Contributing Writer
Country Messenger

(reprinted with permission)

Where would you like to see a bike path or hiking trail in Scandia? As the first step in creating a trail plan for the city, Scandia residents brainstormed Monday, March 28, at the community center.

Funded by a $4,000 grant from the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) through the Washington County Department of Public Health, the project will result in a master plan, trail map, and brochure for residents and visitors. The SHIP money helps communities provide safe and convenient opportunities for physical activity.

City planner Sherri Buss of TKDA led the discussion, using a large map of Scandia showing existing parks, bike routes, and planned trails.

Linking existing and future trails with the city’s many parks is a major goal. William O’Brien State Park on the St. Croix River and Washington County’s Big Marine Regional Park Preserve are large recreation areas in Scandia. Connecting to major trails outside Scandia is another objective.

Barton Johnson Park and the Gammelgarden Museum are located downtown. Also downtown, the city has Lilleskogen Park, which will have paths when it is developed, plus two baseball fields, a t-ball field, and the community center playground. A nature park with hiking trails, Wind in the Pines, is in the northeast corner of the city.

Paved trails that serve road bikes, roller blades, roller skis, and pedestrians were a major topic of discussion. An existing path east of Highway 95 keeps bikers off the highway and connects with Marine on St. Croix through William O’Brien, but is in poor condition.

Several paved roads with wide shoulders are designated bike routes that see heavy use by road bikes. Some residents said separate paths, not part of the road, would be ideal on Highways 95 and 97, Manning Trail and Olinda Trail.

Getting children on bikes to Scandia Elementary School without risking their lives on Highway 97 is another goal. Results from a survey sent to parents will help determine the solution.

Future extensions of the Gateway Trail in Scandia will also provide unpaved trails, giving horseback riders a safe space. Plans are to connect the state park to Meister’s Bar and Grill.Continuing that trail north to the Scandia Rider’s Club arena and into Franconia is a future goal.

Residents also mentioned taking into account the steepness of hills, the presence of bathrooms and drinking water, and traffic speed limits.? Some hoped for walking trails around lakes, loops to prevent backtracking, and sidewalks extending to the ball fields.

Buss said trails can be planned in phases, beginning with signs, progressing to widened roads, and culminating in trails totally separate from the road.

Snowmobile trails, which are mostly located in ditches and require negotiation with private parties, were not considered a likely source of future trail improvements.