— Renville County will be developing plans for $1.55 million in improvements to its Skalbekken County Park along the Minnesota River.
The
Renville County Board of Commissioners
voted unanimously May 13 to approve a joint powers agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. It will provide the county with access to a portion of the $5 million in funding set aside to replace recreational opportunities when the state transferred the 1,300-acre
to the Upper Sioux Community.
Renville County, Yellow Medicine County and the city of Granite Falls each are being allocated $1.55 million in reimbursable funds if they each participate in separate joint powers agreements with the DNR. Yellow Medicine County is eyeing improvements to 12-acre Timm Park, located on Wood Lake. Granite Falls intends to invest in its 141-acre War Memorial Park on the Minnesota River. Each will have to pay project expenses up front and then seek reimbursement.
Skalbekken County Park is located on the Minnesota River downstream of the former state park land. It includes 400 acres of river bluff woodlands. It currently offers 14 rustic campsites and multi-use trail segments for hiking and horseback riding totaling 10.24 miles in length.
Contributed / Renville County
The commissioners previously voiced support for a proposal to develop two camping areas with the funds. The preliminary proposal calls for developing a 17-campsite campground along County Road 10 primarily for equestrian users of the park.
It also calls for a smaller campground and possibly camper cabins to be located on the east side of the park, where there is little development.
What were termed “rough” estimates indicated that the equestrian camping area would cost $750,639 to develop, while the east side developments would cost $757,328. The county is starting to put together improved estimates for the costs, according to discussions at the meeting.
At the May 13 meeting, the commissioners also approved creating an ad hoc advisory committee to steer the development of the park plans. They appointed Board Chair David Hamre and Parks Director Jesse Diehn along with Parks and Trails Committee members Calvin Aarons and Dave Fischer and Community Health Specialist Melissa Swyter. Jeremy Losinski, parks and trails regional director with the DNR, will serve as an advisory member on it.
Contributed / Renville County
Board Chair Hamre said the county’s Parks and Trails Committee met at Skalbekken Park on May 8 to consider improvements to the park and creating the committee.
“Long and short of it, they are on board with creating this committee to help steer this project,” he told the commissioners.
Hamre said he was initially a little leery of approving a joint powers agreement, but said this proposed agreement is “what we need to do to move forward.”
Tom Cherveny / West Central Tribune
