(Jackson)– The City of Jackson, Park Board, Friends of the Jackson County Trails and others have been working on a trails master plan for the county that includes community engagement and connections with surrounding counties. Luke Ewald says it’s been a long process, and the evolution of the current plan will change as time goes, but he says it’s a good starting point…
“Now not every community in Jackson County is part of the plan but that’s not to say that down the road they couldn’t be. It’s kind of an evolving document. Really what we hope is that this plan will kind of help this plan create the regional significance opportunity for our area. The centerpiece is the City of Jackson, and then the trails would kind of crawl to other areas.”
Jackson City Administrator Matt Skaret talked about the significance of the city’s involvement, with the ability to better attract grant dollars and be an intermediary between trails groups and potential funding. He says funding is going to require cooperation…
“The city’s role is really trying to shepherd and foster intergovernmental cooperation. We’re trying to be an instrumental part of a regional trail system not just a City of Jackson trail system or a county trail system. It’s really getting these linked together and I think that’s really what the city’s mission and vision has been as part of this.”
Ewalt and Skaret say one of the primary goals is to provide a connection with the Dickinson County trail system, which would help with the flow of people and cash through the region, and especially routes that connect Jackson to the three county parks to the south.
(Courtesy Community First Broadcasting station KKOJ in Jackson, Mn.)
