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Published November 23, 2012, 12:00 AM

Happy trails to users

Those walking along the Central Lakes Trail near Big Ole Central Park may have been wondering what’s up with the skinny new building that started to take shape there earlier this summer. It’s a new shelter kiosk trailhead – the first of its kind to be constructed on the 55 miles of the Central Lakes Trail.

By: Al Edenloff, Alexandria Echo Press

  • Kiosk
    • image
    Those involved in a project to build a shelter kiosk on the Central Lakes Trail in Alexandria included (front row, left to right) Jeff Fischer, SkillsUSA board member, Sherri Randt, ATCC SkillsUSA advisor, David Malone, ATCC concrete masonry instructor, Andrew Connell, carpentry student, Marlys Bucher, Minnesota Department of Education and SkillsUSA board member, Adam Klinkner, Minnesota SkillsUSA president (post secondary), Doug Nelson, carpentry student, Jennifer Polz, Minnesota Skills USA executive director; (back row, left to right) Paul Anderson, SkillsUSA board member, Les Zimmerman, carpentry instructor and Troy Ruup, carpentry instructor. (Photo by Al Edenloff)

Those walking along the Central Lakes Trail near Big Ole Central Park may have been wondering what’s up with the skinny new building that started to take shape there earlier this summer.

It’s a new shelter kiosk trailhead – the first of its kind to be constructed on the 55 miles of the Central Lakes Trail.

On Tuesday, the key players in the project gathered to celebrate the near completion of the project.

The kiosk will not only provide shelter and a safe entry point onto the trail but many other conveniences as well, including bicycle racks, a free “Green Bike” check-out program, benches, a water fountain and maps showing trail segments, walking routes and services in Alexandria that trail users may want to explore. There will even be a way for trail users to load the maps on their smartphones.

Money for the $10,000 project came through a grant from Lowe’s.

The project is a cooperative effort involving the city of Alexandria, the Central Lakes Trail Association, Acting Living Douglas County, the Alexandria Area Stewards and Alexandria Hotel and Hospitality.

The kiosk was designed and constructed by SkillsUSA students enrolled at Alexandria Technical and Community College as a community service project and mentorship opportunity. About 35 students worked with professionals and governmental agencies to permit, design and construct the building.

Two surveys by Active Living and the stewards identified a need for shelter and safe access to Alexandria from the trail.

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