Approximately 70 people signed in at the Open House and by a rough head count, approximately 80 people attended. Those in attendance included landowners, business owners, elected officials, trail user groups, and other key stakeholders.

Approximately 80 people attended the open house from the following cities/areas - Little Falls, Brainerd, Pierz, Pillager, Bowlus, Randall, St. Cloud, Royalton, Baxter, Staples, Merrifield, Cushing, Fort Ripley, East Gull Lake, Walker, Waite Park, Albany, and Avon.

Hello,We made the news again! This piece by Bob Reinitz will give you an update on the CRVST project:

Some good news off the trail

By Bob Reinitz

Guest Columnist

 The Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail (CRVST) has taken another big step toward becoming a reality. As of this week enough money has been raised to begin a formal Corridor Study which will analyze the feasibility of building a true multi-use trail, motorized and non-motorized, that will link the Paul Bunyan Trail to the North with the Soo Line Trail to the South. The long term intent is for the CRVST to extend down both sides of the Mississippi River and Camp Ripley. This trail was designated a “State Trail” by the 2009 Minnesota Legislature, meaning it will be administered by the Minnesota Department of Natureal Resources (DNR).

If you have ever attempted to put together a puzzle, you know the feeling: the pieces are spread out on your table sorted by color, but that’s as far as you have gotten. You alternately stare at the image on the box and back at the mess in front of you, when suddenly you snap in one more piece and a picture starts to emerge. A picture, perhaps, of a recreational trail with national significance, winding through Minnesota farmland and state parks, around lakes and over rivers. A scenic route connecting communities hundreds of miles apart, stretching from Fergus Falls to Cass Lake or St. Cloud to Bemidji. And all you have to do is put in that one puzzle piece.

You can now follow the Camp Ripley/Veterans Trail on Twitter and Facebook. We'll be posting announcements and other interesting bits as we continue work on getting the trail completed.

Twitter handle: @CRVtrail

For instructions on how to start using Twitter and to follow @CRVtrail from your phone or on your intratube machine check out the tutorial page (includes videos).