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.

There were both supporters of the trail and concerned landowners represented at the meeting. There was also representation from local ATV, snowmobile and cross-country skiing clubs. Many had questions on the alignment of the trail, how it would be funded and when it would be constructed. Since we are still early in the planning stages, it was communicated to the public that no trail alignments have been considered yet but that a second open house meeting would be held in late January 2012 to review potential trail alignments. The timing of construction and funding of the trail are also unknown at this point in time.

The event was covered on Lakeland PublicTelevision, the video is available on youtube.

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).

This is the 2010 ATV ORM Health Benefits Fact Sheet submitted by Russ Heittola of the Cuyuna Iron Range Riders ATV Club.

2010_ATV_ORM_Health_Benefit_Fact_Sheet.pdf

The center of this great state is a hotspot for bicycling, whatever your flavor may be. If you like road biking there’s a winding county road with your name on it. If a relaxed cruise with the family sounds more like you, there are trails just for that.

If you have biked around the region you have met a lot of fellow bicycling enthusiaststs on central Minnesota roads and trails. One thing you will notice is that while there are lots of spectacular riding oppportunities here, there is no organisation to represent the many bikers! Other trail users have very active representation, why not bicyclists? Why not have a group of individuals to share your experiences with, someone to help you with route planning or bicycle repair? We are just getting started and would love it if you joined us.

Find us on facebook and check out our website: www.cmnbikeclub.com !

Soo Line South Trail - Onamia, MN
Adjacent Paved/Gravel Trails

Designing the Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail such that it is open to as many users as possible, which includes ATV and horseback, is a stated goal of the CRV Trail group. Being aware of existing trail designs, how they work, don't work, and impact the various user types and residents is going to be an important part of the ongoing discussion during the CRVST's development process.

Brian Peterson of the Brainerd Dispatch has written a nice article evaluating a nearby section of the Soo Line South Trail that has both motorized (ATV) and non-motorized uses. As a trail that has adjacent paved and unpaved treadways, it will be an important design to consider for the CRVST.

So how is it that, in the middle of the countryside, you would find bicyclists together with ATV enthusiasts?

The Soo Line Trail zig-zags across central and northern Minnesota. But here, for an 11-mile stretch from Onamia to Isle, it offers separate access for ATVers and bicyclists, joggers, walkers and rollerbladers and the like. A paved, five-foot-wide trail for the latter group of trail users runs parallel to a gravel ATV trail - slightly wider as it has spread out with use - with a small "median" of weeds, gravel and dirt between the two.