December 2021
Thanks to collaboration between Otter Tail County staff and City of Fergus Falls staff, the Amended Glacial Edge Trail Master Plan has been completed and approved by the Otter Tail County Board and by the Fergus Falls City Council! The approved route maps for the additional 14-mile section connecting the Otter Tail County Garage to Maplewood State Park are available to view or download, as well as a full version of the Amended Glacial Edge Trail Master Plan, at the link below.
The Project Advisory Group met in November of 2021 to review and discuss the final revisions to the Master Plan, and City and County Staff worked together on a joint agreement for implementation. The Amended Master Plan was submitted to the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Committee for review and Regional Designation was granted, which will allow Otter Tail County to apply for Legacy Funding and other funding opportunities.
October 2020
Glacial Edge Trail Public Input
As you may know, Otter Tail County, in partnership with the City of Fergus Falls, is updating the Glacial Edge Trail Master Plan to extend the planned trail north from Fergus Falls to Maplewood State Park and to the Perham to Pelican Rapids Regional Trail. The proposed 14-mile trail extension of the Glacial Edge Trail will begin along County Road 1 at the Otter Tail County Garage site and continue north along County Road 3, to Maplewood State Park. The intent of the extended route is to provide a unique regional trail experience, showcasing both the rural and urban context of the glacial edge landscape, while connecting important regional destinations. This trail extension was identified in the Otter Tail County-Wide Trail Master Plan in 2017.
The trail will be constructed as a 10-ft wide paved trail that is separated from the roadway. In some areas where the trail crosses wetland areas, a boardwalk or other type of construction will be explored to reduce the impact of trail construction on water and wildlife habitat.
With the guidance of a Project Advisory Group, a committee consisting of local stakeholder representatives, as well as with City of Fergus Falls and Otter Tail County staff, a proposed trail route and trailhead locations have been identified. The public is invited and encouraged to review the enclosed maps and contact Otter Tail County staff to discuss any thoughts, ideas, or concerns you may have about the proposed trail route. Minimizing impacts to your property while maintaining the operation and serviceability goals of the trail is our intention.
An online interactive feedback map has also been created for this project. You are invited to visit the website below and leave any comments on the interactive map. The map will be open for comments until November 18th, 2020. (Instructions on how to use the map are located in the upper left hand corner of the map)
Please note that there is no immediate schedule or plan for construction to begin in the near future. The master planning process, which includes gathering of community input, is a necessary step towards identifying and securing grants and other funding sources for the project.
August 2019
Glacial Edge Trail Amendment Project Description
Otter Tail County, in partnership with the City of Fergus Falls, is creating an amended master plan for the Glacial Edge Trail to extend the trail through the county, connecting Fergus Falls to Maplewood State Park and to the future Perham to Pelican Rapids Regional Trail. In 2017, the City of Fergus Falls completed a master plan for the Glacial Edge Trail, as a 14-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail connecting the Central Lakes State Trail, through the City of Fergus Falls, and terminating at County Road 1 northeast of the city. The amended master plan effort will combine the 2017 planned route with the extended route to provide a unique regional trail experience, showcasing both the rural and urban context of the glacial edge terrain, while connecting important regional destinations over the 28+ mile route.
Both the Glacial Edge Trail and the Perham to Pelican Rapids Trail have been designated as regional trails by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks & Trails Commission (GMRPTC). Designated regional trails are eligible for state funding through grants from the sales tax revenue resulting from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment to the State’s constitution, which was approved by Minnesota voters in 2008. A 25-year Regional Parks and Trails Legacy Plan was completed in 2011 and the GMRPTC was established in 2013. The GMRPTC is charged with coordinating the development of a regional system of parks and trails as well as recommending to the State Legislature the awarding of grant funding to cities and counties for regional parks and trails development.
The Glacial Edge Trail Master Plan Amendment Project will begin August 2019 and is expected to be completed January of 2020. A Project Advisory Group, consisting of local stakeholder representatives, will provide guidance to the Project Management and Consultant Teams. Project updates, meeting agendas and minutes will be posted on this website, as well as information about how you can get involved.