Blazing Star State Trail
March 5, 2019

Blazing Star: trail extension

Project was included in Parks & Trails Council’s 2019 Legislative Agenda.

2019 Legislative Summary

2019 Amount RequestedStatus
$2.5 millionNone (no bonding bill)

Funding Source Sought

Seal of Minnesota
General Obligation Bonds

Bills Introduced

SF 572: Blazing Star Trail bridge over Albert Lea Lake bond issue and appropriation ($800,000).

Bill did not progress further, no bonding bill was passed in 2019

See bill status in our Bill Tracker

Final Language in Law

No bill passed

Proposed Project Overview

This will complete a 6-mile trail connection between the city of Albert Lea into Myre-Big Island State Park and to the city of Hayward.

The Blazing Star State Trail currently stretches from Albert Lea to Hayward, with an approximately 2-mile gap in between. Bridging this gap requires a trail bridge over Albert Lea Lake, and would connect two cities and a state park. Both the cities of Albert Lea and Hayward have invested in trailhead facilities on either end of the trail, and the Freeborn County Trail Association has been working to get this project done for years.

Project Support

Grassroots initiative in partnership with Freeborn County Trail Association

Legislative History on Project

2018

Introduced, Not Funded
  1. Bills (HF 1296SF 276) drafted that appropriate $800,000 for construction of a bridge over Albert Lea Lake, connecting Hayward to Albert Lea via the Blazing Star State Trail.
  2. Both bills referred to committees.
  3. Failed to be included in the omnibus bonding bill.

Other Investment Projects on P&TC's 2019 Legislative Agenda

About Lisa Filter

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