Trail Builder Terry McGaughey

Mr. Paul Bunyan Trail

Terry McGaughey has spent a quarter century working to make the 110-mile trail connecting Crow Wing and Lake Bemidji state parks a reality

Behind every successful park or trail effort you will find a Trail Builder, an individual that shepherded the dream into reality, giving time, money or both in pursuit of the goal. The following is a Q & A feature on one such Trail Builder -- Terry McGaughey. Thanks in large part to Terry's passion and commitment, Minnesotans will soon be able to ride the Paul Bunyan State Trail 110 miles from Brainerd to Bemidji

Q: How did you get involved in trail development?
I have a history of working with the Legislature on recreational trail projects that dates back to 1962. When it was announced in 1983 that the Burlington Northern Railroad was going to be abandoned from Brainerd to International Falls, I thought that the highest and best use of the railway line would be as a recreational trail. The Heartland Trail had already been established as the first paved state trail in Minnesota and my family and I enjoyed biking on it, so it just seemed natural for this abandoned railway to become a recreational trail too. So I started an effort working with 16 communities along the route to generate public support for the trail.

Q: What motivates you to continue your work?
It always seems like there is another section of trail where attention is needed. I've been working on the Paul Bunyan Trail since 1983, and we still have to do development from Walker to Bemidji, in the Brainerd area where there are some missing links and on an addition to Crow Wing State Park where the Parks & Trails Council has been active in acquiring land for a trail extension to the park. We always seem to have more to keep us going. If we ever get every segment that is proposed done, then we're just going to go for a bike ride.

Q: Where do you see statewide trail developments heading in the future?
I think this is a really exciting time where we've seen a shift in priorities from a legislative standpoint. The Legislature has recognized the benefits of trails to citizens, and they've responded, especially this last session, by providing nearly $14 million for state trail acquisition, development and rehabilitation. I don't have the numbers, but I think we are one of the nation's leaders in terms of trail development.

Q: What advice would you give to others who are trying to develop trails?
The most important thing is you have to stay committed. I've seen a lot of good ideas come and go because the group didn't have a focus and they didn't stay at it. You've got to continue to focus on the big picture because trails don't happen by themselves. The Parks & Trails Council is one of the best conduits through which to see that your trail project gets completed because they have a great deal of credibility with the Legislature.

The Parks & Trails Council has many Trail Builder stories of people giving their time, talents and resources to build parks and trails. A contribution to Parks & Trails helps energize and train more trail builders, and preserve and protect special places for generations to come.