-
The 13-block multi-use trail, above, center, would be developed along Florida Avenue. GRAPHIC/CITY OF ST. CLOUD
St. Cloud City Council recently adopted a plan for a multi-use trail along Florida Avenue, which will link the lakefront to the downtown.
The 13-block trail will be beneficial for economic development, said Stephanie Holtkamp, the city’s parks and recreation director.
The 10-foot wide trail will run down the center of the existing median.
“It gives a clear and consistent trail,” she said, adding that the project is part of the city’s master plan for trails. “It will bring people from downtown to the lakefront.”
Rick Heuser, owner of Handyman Hardware and president of St. Cloud Main Street, is happy with the proposed project.
“It will make Florida Avenue even more attractive,” he said. “It’s a way to get people into downtown businesses.”
Heuser feels downtown is really changing and restaurants, shops and bars are seeing a positive amount of business.
“It’s becoming more of a destination,” he said.
In a recent press release, St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce President Dirk Webb said the chamber supports the proposed plan.
“It is important to link these two wonderful assets,” he said. “Our lakefront and downtown will soon be destinations of choice.”
In Spring 2016, the city of St. Cloud began the process of developing a Citywide Trails Master Plan to establish a clear vision and specific implementation steps to facilitate the development of a comprehensive trail network, said Holtkamp.
“The purpose of the St. Cloud Citywide Trails Master Plan is to provide the city with an effective planning tool to be used to support the development of a multi-use trail system,” she said.
The Master Plan serves as a guide for the St. Cloud Recreation Advisory Committee, city staff and the city council in their decisions regarding the location, funding and construction of trails and other bicycle facilities. The Citywide Trails Master Plan was approved and adopted by the City Council in July of 2017.
Last year, the city solicited online input from the public and held a virtual public meeting. This January, a public meeting was held and three concepts were presented. Concept C, a curvy path down the median, was the most wellreceived idea. They also discussed landscaping and the use of live oaks and crape myrtles received the majority of the votes.
Holtkamp said the project is still at the conceptual design level and construction will not start for another 10 to 12 months.
“We have lots of projects going on,” she said. “There is lots of land and lots of people moving in.”
