Park panel approves joining trails group

By RON LARSEN Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM - The New Ulm Park and Recreation Commission voted Monday to recommend that the city join with Brown County and four other communities in establishing a Brown County Trail System.

The commission New Ulm joining Sleepy Eye, Springfield, Comfrey, Hanska and Brown County to establish the Trail System for the benefit of residents of Brown County. It will interconnect with proposed regional trail systems as established by the signing of a joint powers agreement with the other participants.

However, the commission's recommendation is tempered by a cap on the annual cost to the city of $2,000.

"This is a trails group that has been meeting off and on for several years in conjunction with representatives of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources [and others[. The benefits are linking these communities together while promoting health and fitness," Director Tom Schmitz said. "We want to connect and make linkages [through] corridors out west."

The organization created would be "managed by a Board of Commissioners ... for the purpose of developing, constructing and operating the Trail System," according to provisions of the joint powers agreement.

The commission also gave its approval to going ahead with the first phase of what is to be a renovation of Kiesling Park in downtown New Ulm.

This phase would include removing the fountain, as well as removing some of the brick paverstone walkways and replacing them with one ADA-approved walkway between Minnesota Street and Kiesling Haus itself. The project also includes removing three of the four stressed and injured trees around the foundation, as well as the narrow and unused walkway along the north retaining wall and the dilapidated brick retaining wall just west of the fountain area, Schmitz said.

All affected areas will be leveled and sodded with grass, and a picnic table and benches will be added.

The commission also is recommending that the City Council approve an agreement with the DM&E Railroad for clearing the underbrush in the ditch between the soccer field and the railroad line, basically between about Fourth North Street. and Sixth North to the east of the Graffiti Wall. Because this area is in the railroad's right-of-way, DM&E's approval is needed.

A $500 cash donation from the New Ulm Jaycees Club to help fund the Youth OktoberBlast special event at the Recreation Center is being recommended to the City Council for acceptance.

Schmitz also reminded commissioners of the Hermann Heights Park Master Plan Update public meeting with the consultants at the Community Center Thursday, Sept. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Ron Larsen can be reached at rlarsen@nujournal.com