CIRCLE PINES, Minn. – (Sept. 8, 2016) – Rice Creek North Regional Trail runs through Blaine, Circle Pines and Lino Lakes. The paved trail has provided residents a safe connection to local businesses, parks and schools for decades but recently it was showing its age.
“The trail itself was approximately 25 to 30 years old,” said Jeff Perry Anoka County Parks Operations Manager. “It was in an unsafe state of disrepair.
Anoka County received a Park and Trail Legacy grant for $300,000 to rebuild the trail. The trail was closed for July and August. Now the project is complete and the new smooth trail is ready for bikers, hikers, runners and skaters.
“It sees approximately 168,000 visitors annually here in this section of trail,” said Perry
RELATED LINKS:
The trail is also an important tool for maintaining the natural landscape that covers this portion of Anoka County.
“From an operational perspective, the trails allow access for natural resource management activities for forest management, forest health management [and] prairie restorations,” said Perry.
The Rice Creek North Regional Trail is just one part of the large trail system in the metro area.
“It’s a vast network that connects the regional park system together. It connects to local businesses, schools [and] community neighborhoods. So the regional trail network in the county is fantastic.”
Besides providing a safe route to Golden Lake Elementary School the trail also provides a link to several city parks.
