Trailwork began

CRESCO - Conservation Director Jeff Korsmo announced work has begun on the Prairie Springs Recreational Trail, running south of Cresco, from 7th Ave. behind Accura HealthCare to the Nature Center. 

Howard County Conservation received a $1,061,000 grant from a federal program generated from COVID-19 funding for getting some work done on the 23-year-old trail. The work includes replacing culverts, doing grade work and basically making it ADA compliant. Any cost overrun will be paid by the city and county.  

“We will be working on the south part of the trail for the next 2-3 weeks, then we will jump to Highway 9 East, replacing aging culverts east of the former NAPA building,” Korsmo explained.

This is about a quarter-mile, where new pipe and concrete will be replaced.

Then the Prairie Springs Recreational Trail will be scarfired (surface planed or milled) and fine grading to the trailhead, past the two-mile corner  on the Winneshiek County line.

“We are hoping to start paving in June, depending on weather, etc.,” the director added.

“All of the neighbors have been super easy to work with. We are trying to improve everything we can.

Wicks Construction of Decorah is the main contractor with Mehmert being the subcontractor.

“Our long-term goal is to connect with other communities,” Korsmo said.

Prairie Springs Recreational Trail opened in 2000. “This was one of the first trails and was completed by grass-roots efforts. It has been used heavily and not much has been done for maintenance, other than replacing some culverts.”

Korsmo understands it is inconvenient for those who enjoy walking and riding on the trail, but he reminds everyone to respect the barricades. There is a lot of construction going on, and it can be dangerous.