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Duluth Awarded $400,000 in Trail Grants

The City of Duluth, in partnership with the Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS), is pleased to announce that the City of Duluth has been selected to receive a total of $400,000 in grants, $150,000 from the Federal Recreational Trails Grant Program and $250,000 from the Minnesota DNR Regional Trail Grant Program. There were 41 applications for the Regional Trail Grant Program with requests totaling over $4.79 million and only a little over $1 million to allocate. Funding comes from “In Lieu Of” lottery proceeds.  The Federal Trail Grant Program had over $4.66 million in grant requests with $2.62 million available for funding. That funding comes from the Federal Highway Administration.

Extension 1 - 3.25 miles from Becks Road and heading west into the Mission Creek Trail Center connecting to existing trails (funded and completed by a 2013 FRTP grant award and a 2011 Legacy Trail Grant):

This section along with a section in progress completes the Mission Creek Duluth Traverse “Connector Trail”.

Extension 2 - 3.25 miles from Hwy 53 to Haines Road in the Piedmont Neighborhood:

This extension connects the western terminus of the Traverse “Connector Trail” in Enger Park (funded by a 2014 FRTP grant award expected to be completed this fall) to the existing trail centers at Piedmont Recreation Area and Brewer Park.

Extension 3 - Skyline Parkway/Brewer Park to Spirit Mountain Recreation Area (5.45 miles):

Spirit Mountain and Brewer Park are two of six ride centers in the City and this route will connect them and provide easy access to both centers for the west Duluth communities.

Extension 4 - Additional build-out of the Mission Creek Trail Center (5.45 miles): 

This extension will add to the existing 14.8 miles in the Mission Creek Trail Center for a total of 20.25 miles.  Anchoring the western terminus of the Duluth Traverse Trail this new trail will connect the Fond-du-lac neighborhood directly to the Duluth Traverse Trail system.

In total 17.4 miles of natural surface shared-use trail will be added to the Duluth Traverse Trail system connecting neighborhoods, natural areas and people to the green spaces and parks of Duluth.  

Project description: The planned Duluth Traverse trail system includes the “Connector Trail” that travels the length of Duluth and connects six multi-use trail centers at Lester-Amity Park, Hartley Park, Piedmont Recreation Area, Brewer Park, Spirit Mountain Recreation Area and Mission Creek Park. When complete, the system will sport over 100 miles of multi-use trails for various skill levels showcasing the diverse natural beauty of Duluth.  After the 2015 construction season 60 miles will have been completed.

The City of Duluth has designated its 1/2 & 1/2 tourism tax dollars to recreation and tourism development in western Duluth. This request funds two sections that fill critical gaps in the spine trail and follows the schedule developed via the 2008 Trail and Bikeway Master Plan. This $400,000 in grants will leverage $400,000 in 1/2 & 1/2 tourism tax dollars to complete these four extensions. 

The Duluth Traverse Trail implementation to date has been done in partnership between the City of Duluth and Cyclists of Gitchee Gummee Shores, a not for profit community-based organization. The City expects the work to start Spring of 2016 once designs are completed.

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