What started as a dream is now becoming a reality. Construction has begun on Phase 1 of the recreational trail at Lake Monticello, which is located on the windy hills side access of the lake and consists of three miles of trail, 1.2 miles of skill course and 0.3 miles of pump track.
Progressive trail design began building late last week and are making steady progress. Progressive is known coast to coast for building world class trail systems. They will begin with the trail portion of Phase 1 before moving forward with the skills park and pump track. They are awaiting some features for those areas to come in. The trail has been flagged and crews are excavating the paths. It will be a natural, hard packed surface designed for foot and bike traffic but optimized for biking. A natural surface trail is a multi-dimensional, versatile trail that utilizes native mineral soil for its final surface. Natural surface trails employ full “bench cuts” that follow the contours of its terrain, and typically follow mellow grades. This trail designation encompasses a wide range of trail types to serve a wide range of user groups.
Typically, natural surface trails range from 18-inch wide singletrack to 5-foot wide doubletrack, depending on user type.
Funding for this project has in large part come from grants. In June 2020, a volunteer group applied for $246,000 in grant funding and was awarded $150,000.
The completion of Phase 1 will show a great effort by our community which should draw some attention from these funding sources statewide. Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed within a year, weather permitting, and the goal is to keep the builders here to begin Phase 2, which will add a seven mile loop to the northeast section. In May 2022, $347,000 was applied for in grant funding and the award decision is expected to be made in September.
The plan is to complete one phase at a time depending on the grant cycle award. The trail will circumvent the lake totaling close to 25 miles once complete.
“We are excited for the future of Lake Monticello which will be a hub of recreational activities including biking, hiking, fishing, birding, water sports , and an exceptional disc golf course,” Jeff Newton said. “Everything will be worth the wait!”
