Groups offer visions for Luce Line Trail

To pave or not to pave is the question, but the answer is not as simple as “yes” or “no.”

State Rep. Ron Shimanski hosted a spirited public hearing Saturday in Silver Lake. Shimanski wanted to hear people’s comments on a proposal to pave the Luce Line Trail from Cedar Mills to Winsted.

With a multitude of interest groups raising concerns, it may be difficult for Shimanski to make a decision that will please everyone.

Farmers, horseback riders, snowmobilers, joggers, cyclists, business owners, state and city officials all have their own visions for what Shimanski has called “an important part of our area.”

The DNR’s vision
In 1998, the state Department of Natural Resources, in its master plan for the Luce Line, recommended paving the trail with asphalt and maintaining an unpaved parallel horse treadway.

Laurie Young of the DNR compared advantages of different paving methods for the trail.

Advantages to asphalt include increased trail use. The asphalt surface would be more inviting to cyclists and in-line skaters.

This could yield economic benefits to the communities along the trail. A 1996-98 DNR survey showed visitors to the Paul Bunyan and Root River trails spent close to $1.5 million at businesses along each of these trails, during the three-month summer season. Users of the Gateway Trail, which is used less by out-of-town tourists, spent about $444,000 dollars.

Young said increased trail use would also help fight health-care costs due to preventable diseases related to obesity.

Young said asphalt would require lower maintenance costs than with aggregate (gravel or crushed limestone).

Advantages to aggregate paving included less expensive up-front costs to develop a trail. Joggers and horseback riders prefer it because it’s easier on humans’ and horses’ joints.