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. Some people also prefer the more natural look of aggregate.

Horseback riders’ concerns
Shari Erickson of Hutchinson is strongly opposed to asphalt paving the Luce Line Trail. She expressed concerns with increased littering and questioned how much the parallel horse treadway would cost. Patty Thorwardson of Stewart thought putting in the treadway “would cost a lot more than what’s being told to us now.”

Darcie Elmhorst, another avid equestrian, said horseback riders enjoy the trail now because there is enough room for them to ride side-by-side and talk. A treadway would require horseback riders to go single file. She also expressed concern that the treadway wouldn’t be maintained. “They can’t even mow what’s there now,” she said.

Elmhorst called spending $1.5 million on paving the trail “frivolous.” She questioned the use of taxpayer money when, “We’re going to close all these schools in Minneapolis because we don’t have money for anything.”

Other spending priorities
Glen Sladek of Biscay said he wasn’t opposed to the trail proposal. “I’m just against spending any tax dollars,” he said. “It’s a luxury. There’s no way someone can convince me that this is any kind of necessity.”

Chris Shimanski, son of the state legislator, said, “I am grossly opposed to this. Why don’t we put some money into Highway 7 and see what kind of economic benefits come down this way?”

Farmers’ worries
“City dwellers love asphalt,” said one resident. “Hutchinson is full of concrete. I’m a farmer and a naturalist. I can’t see where this pavement is going to benefit the beauty of the trail.”

Another farmer and landowner adjacent to the trail expressed concern over access to his fields being preserved. He wanted to know who would be liable in the event that heavy equipment damaged the asphalt.

Craig Mitchell of the DNR said the state would define crossing points for farmers’ equipment. In the 35 years or so he’d been with the department, Mitchell said he hadn’t seen problems with that.

When crossings are properly designed, he said, “I can’t say that we’ve had trouble with the weight of equipment.”

Another farmer asked if the DNR would control weeds along the Luce Line Trail. Mitchell said the department would do a better job at weed control than it does now.

“Part of the problem is the trail now is less developed,” he said. Because the Luce Line is used less, the DNR hasn’t maintained it as much as other trails.

When asked if a farmer who needed to tear up the asphalt to work on a buried tile line would have to pay for repaving, Mitchell said, “We would work with you on that, but it would probably cost something to both of us.”

Snowmobilers divided
Bill Arndt is both a snowmobiler and cyclist. He said the Luce Line can easily accommodate all recreational uses.

A law prohibiting studded snowmobile tracks on paved trails was phased out last year, Arndt said, removing one objection local snowmobilers have voiced.

But Doug Krueger of Glencoe and other snowmobilers also said they are paying more than their fair share to maintain the trail.

Snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and horseback riders all have to pay for a permit to enjoy the Luce Line Trail. Bikers, in-line skaters and joggers don’t have to pay an annual fee to display a permit sticker. “Where would they put the sticker?” one resident jokingly asked.

Mitchell said that was a valid point, and while there are some proposals to require permits on bikes, as in other states, some see it as an unfair tax on children.

Cyclists and their families
While one can bike the trail as it is from Cedar Mills to Winsted, it’s a rough ride. For those without mountain bikes and for both younger and older riders, it can be a challenge.

Lee Salmi of Hutchinson said he could ride a mountain bike if he were 40 or 50 years younger. Bike riding is key to keeping up his cardiovascular health, but riding around town is hazardous, he said.

“I’ve been knocked down twice on the streets,” he said.

Hutchinson Mayor Steve Cook also cited safety for cyclists as another reason to pave the trail. Cook said he and his family rode the trail to Winsted and back again. On the return trip, his son opted to ride along Highway 7 because the going was smoother. Cook was concerned that riding along the highway was far more dangerous than riding a paved trail would be.

“This is really about providing more experiences for more people,” he said. “We can all look for problems or we can work together.”

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)