Welcome to Kenmare

Feature Stories (Vol. 109 No. 22--5/30/2007)

Committee working on plans for area walking-fitness trail

Group told to think big

By Caroline Downs

Taking a walk around Kenmare may soon lead to bigger adventures as plans for a new walking and recreational trail take shape.

A group of a dozen interested citizens, led by city council member Todd Ankenbauer and Kenmare Community Development Corporation executive director Kari Bies, met last week to discuss possible designs and funding sources for a city walking trail. Maria Effertz Hanson, community development specialist with the Souris Basin Planning Council, also attended the session to offer her assistance.

Interest in the project has been spurred by the demolition of the old high school track last fall. Several local residents, ranging in age from children to senior citizens, used the track for fitness walking on a regular basis.

Ankenbauer opened the meeting with a preliminary design for the trail that included a route between the two schools that ended at the Kenmare Country Club.

Effertz Hanson encouraged the group to think larger, especially when considering potential funding sources. "Looking at the [North Dakota] Department of Transportation grant, what is the purpose of the trail?" she said. "The DOT likes to see loops, connecting points, non-motorized multipurpose paths, and eight to ten feet of right-of-way."

She suggested expanding the trail to include parts of the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge and other sections of the city. "Do a little dreaming," she said. "We’ve got an active community. How do we play off that to build a great recreational trail?"

Effertz Hanson listed a variety of grant sources in the state, including the NDDOT, the Parks and Recreation Trail Program, the Tourism Expansion Grant, and Safe Routes to School, as well as the Garrison Diversion recreation matching grant program.

"Good plans get funded," she said. "You need to show how volunteers are involved, in-kind support and a strong commitment from the community. They like to see a broad base of support."

She continued, "You need to look at doing this in three phases. They like to see the fact that you’ve planned and will accomplish as much as you can in each phase."

She told the group to expect to spend between $250,000 and $350,000 per mile of in-town path construction, and suggested starting with an initial $10,000 in seed money. She also recommended the group start collecting resolutions of support from various organizations and agencies around town, including the Association of Commerce, city council, school district and Baptist Home.

Although members of the group initially hesitated over the three-to-five-year time frame Effertz Hanson described for the project, they understood the importance of building a long-term record of development and support for the project. "Where would you like to go in the next five years?" Effertz Hanson asked. "There’s so many things you could grow on in this town. And recreational development is one of the top ten characteristics that attract young people under the age of 30 to your community."

With Effertz Hanson’s advice in mind, the committee worked to reconfigure the proposed trail to include several loops and branches that incorporated the downtown area, the Baptist Home, the Des Lacs NWR, both schools, the Wellness Center and more.

Bies said the trail would offer something for all ages of Kenmare residents and visitors. "We’ve got to focus on education, the environment, safety and fitness," Bies said. "That’s what the grants are going toward."

Ankenbauer promised to contact city engineer Ryan Ackerman of Ackerman-Estvold in Minot about formal design plans for the trail. Bies will be researching grant applications and contacting various community groups about providing letters of support for the project. The committee will meet again, at a time yet to be determined.

Even as the project grew beyond the group’s first expectations, Bies was happy with the outcome of the session with Effertz Hanson. "I received a lot of information from Maria about grants that could be possible," Bies said. "She gave us the confidence our community will support it!"

Persons interested in working with or supporting the walking and recreational trail committee, should contact Bies at 701-217-0048 or by email at kcdc@rtc.coop.