The Board of Directors of the Gateway Trail Association voted recently to change the name of Association to the Gateway-Brown's Creek Trail Association. This change reflects the achievement of the Association’s long-term advocacy for the acquisition of the 6½ mile Brown's Creek Trail (formerly the Zephyr Rail Line) by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources earlier this year. Having linked the two great river cities of Stillwater on the St. Croix with St. Paul on the Mississippi we will now continue our advocacy for the extension the this trail system to William O’Brien State Park thereby further enhancing this unique and great recreational resource. We would be pleased to have your support in helping us achieve this goal. One of the ways you may help is by joining the new Gateway-Brown's Creek Trail Association which you may do by clicking on Membership and completing the application. Note that our membership dues are reasonably priced to encourage broader support for this non-profit organization. With your help we can continue make things happen.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WINTER ON THE TRAIL
Trail at 84th & Jewell As in past years, the trail will be groomed for Cross Country Skiing from Jamica Avenue to Pine Point Park. A DNR ski pass is required. Click here for more information. Ski Passes _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
25th ANNUAL CROSS COUNTRY SKI EVENT
Due to the lack of snow, the skiing portion of the event is cancelled. We will still meet for lunch at noon at the Gasthaus.
The 25th annual Cross Country Ski Event will be held again this year as follows:
Date: Saturday, February 4, 2012 Time: 10 am Start Place: Ellie & Phil Brunner Home 8432 80th St. No Grant, MN 55082 End Place: Gausthus Bavarian Hunter Restaurant 8390 Lofton Ave No. Grant, MN 55082
As in past years, we expect about 25 skiers to assemble at the Brunner home for cake, cookies and coffee and then proceed about 3 miles up the trail to the Gausthus Bavarian Hunter Restaurant for lunch. This year’s event has added appeal because the route taken will include a stretch of the new Browns Creek extension from Duluth Junction to the Gausthus Bavarian Hunter Restaurant. It is the same route but now with new meaning. We expect skiers to arrive at the restaurant about 11:30 am. A social hour with a cash bar will follow with lunch scheduled for 12:30 pm. There will be 4 luncheon choices. Send your check for $15.50 to: Peter Nord 14423 136th St. No. Stillwater, MN 55082
Below is a map to help you find the Brunner home and the restaurant. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDLELIGHT WINTER HIKE ON THE TRAIL
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is conducting a night time candle light two mile walk on the trail from the Hadley Stop to the Highway 36 Underpass. At the halfway point, refreshments will be served by a warm fire. The walk will be led by officials from the DNR. See the map below to see the location of the Hadley Stop and the route of the walk.
The DNR is looking for volunteers to help out at this event. If you are interested, please notify Rachel.l.hintzman@state.mn.us. Volunteers will need to arrive at Hadley Stop at 4 PM and will be required to sign a DNR volunteer form.
CENTURY AVE BRIDGE & N.ST.PAUL TRAIL HEAD DEDICATIONS
Left to Right Greg Coughlin, Metro District State Aid Engineer, MnDOT; Senator Chuck Wiger; Forrest Boe, Deputy Director, DNR Division of Parks and Trails; U.S. Representative Betty McCollum; Mike Kuehn, Mayor, City of North Saint Paul; Carmen Sarrack, Mayor, City of Oakdale; Noreen Farrell, Board Member, Gateway Trail Association; Dan Collins, Board Member, Gateway Trail Association; State Representative Leon Lillie.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Congresswoman Betty McCullum and the North St. Paul High School ROTC Honor Guard. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Gateway Trail Association Board Members Noreen Farrell and Bob Hagstrom cut cake at the new North St. Paul Trail Head & RestStop on the trail.
Paul Johnson,Maplewood Historical Socieity, resting after a ride on his circa 1880 penney farthing bicycle. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
North St.Paul Mayor Mike Kuehn dedicates the North St. Paul Trail Head & Rest Stop. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dan Collins, Gateway Trail Association Board Member and Master of Ceremonies speaks at dedication. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A SIMULATED WALK DOWN THE BROWN'S CREEK TRAIL
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Washington County combined resources along with a $1000 contribution from the Gateway Trail Association to purchase the old Zephyr Line railroad earlier this year. Detailed information on the conversion from rail road to trail may be obtained from the following link to the DNR website.
Time Line For Conversion Fall 2011: Design begins for entire corridor. Begin removing rails and their supporting ties. Spring 2012: Redevelop railroad bridge over St. Croix Trail/ Highway 95 and begin paving. Brown's Creek Park, Stillwater, MN
Brown's Creek Trail passing under Highway 5.
Ravine alongside the Brown's Creek Trail
Bridge over Brown's Creek.
Brown's Creek Descending into Stillwater.
Brown's Creek Trail Bridge passing over Highway 95.
Approaching Stillwater Train Station.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ A Fall Walk on the Gateway-Brown's Creek Trail Scot and Jody walk Maggi at Highway 96 overpass, September 1 9, 2011 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ MANNING AVE BRIDGE NOW OPEN
The Manning Avenue opened early this November to runners, bladers, walkers,bikers and horses thus passing over high speed County Road 15. There are some finishing details to complete which will require the closing of the bridge for short times next summer (2012) and there will be a dedication of the bridge sometime next spring. See What's New for historical detail of this two year project.
Antique bridge in place on Manning Ave November 20 in the culmination of a 2 year project. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Four New Construction and Improvement Projects Affecting The Gateway Trail
1. The Mahtomedi School District has begun the process of building a new elementary school which will be located next to the Gateway Trail at the intersection with Jamaca Avenue and is planned for completion in the Fall of 2012. A school bus entrance and exit has been approved that will cut across the Trail at this point. Work on the school will probably begin in the Fall of 2011. We will provide more details/pictures in the future.
2. The Cayuga Trail Head located near downtown St. Paul will be reconfigured and the trail extended to University Avenue as a result of a project by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This project will replace the current Maryland Avenue bridge which runs over I-35E and improve the on-off ramps in the area. This project is expected to begin in 2013. The attached link to the Department of Transportation includes more information and a map of the area. Link to dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/cayuga/images/cayugalayout.pdf We will provide more information as this project develops.
3. A drinking fountain is to be installed at the Community Gardens as the trail crosses Arlington Avenue. The drinking fountain will be a welcome sight on the south end and will also provide water for the beautiful Community Gardens adjacent to the Trail. The fountain is expected to be installed in September of 2011.
4 The Minnesota Department of Transportation will begin work on a project to improve traffic flow at Highway 36 and Hilton Trail. A ramp over the Gateway Trail will connect to the frontage road. The project is expected to begin in 2012. Attached is a link to the Minnesota Department of Transportation website which provides more information on this project including a map of the project. Link to dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy36pinesprings/images/th36_hilton.pdf ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Zephyr Line Purchase Completed
Purchase of the Zephyr Line by the DNR was included in the Bonding Bill recently signed by Governor Dayton according to the Minneapolis Tribune July 24, 2011. The new State Trail will be called the Browns Creek State Trail and may be available for use by the summer of 2012. The Browns Creek Trail will follow the 6 1/2 mile rail line of the old Minnesota Zephyr Line, a spur line running off the Gateway Trail from Highway 96 to the train station in Stillwater. A portion of the new trail at the point of intersection with the Gateway Trail is shown below. We will provide more information as it is available.
See link to Minneapolis Tribune July 24, 2011 for more detail. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Announcements And Special Items of Interest Click on Many Uses, One TrailReminder Trail Passes Required for Horse Riders/Skiers & Group Permits for large groups Click onWhat's New Pictures from June 4, 2011 National Trails Day Observed at Hadley Rest Stop. Click onWhat's New Gateway Trail Association Buys a Leaf Blower For Trail Maintenance. Click on Membershipto join or renew membership for 2011-2012. Click on History of Gateway State TrailTo Play Short Video History of the Gateway Trail. Click on Trail Use Tipsfor information on car break-ins at Gateway Trail Parking Lots. Click on What's New:Vandalism at Highway 96 overpass prompts offer of $250 reward by GWTA. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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