Parkers Prairie Bike Path
by Steve Heriot, photos by Jackie Henning, AMS Digital Productions
Like many Minnesota towns, Parkers Prairie is blessed with nearby lakes. One of those bodies of water is Lake Adley, which is situated just south of the community. Adley Park, on the southeast side of the lake, offers a boat ramp, overnight tent camping, a large picnic shelter, a grill and fire ring, running water, a children’s playground, and restrooms. The shaded, peaceful park also has a newly-built fishing pier, and the lake holds good numbers of crappie, bass, northern pike and sunfish. With all of these amenities, the idea of a walking and biking trail from town was obviously a good idea.
The first discussions about the possibility of a “Lake Adley” trail took place in 2010. The city then worked with MnDOT, Otter Tail County, and the city’s engineers to design the project, taking into consideration feedback from business owners and residents along the planned route.
The City of Parkers Prairie then applied for, and was awarded funding through a 2015 MnDOT Transportation Enhancement Funding Project which provided 80 percent of the approximately $364,000 in construction costs for the project. The City of Parkers Prairie covered the remaining 20 percent of the costs. The City has the responsibility for upkeep of the trail, which is designated for non-motorized use in the summer months and enjoyed by walkers and bikers of all ages.
The new paved trail is 10-feet wide and is constructed in the road right-of-way. It stretches from the southern side of Parkers Prairie to Lake Adley Park, passing by several businesses. The trail is not plowed in the wintertime, but it is still open for use.
Upgrades to the trail are currently being considered, which may include the installation of benches. There is also a collaborative effort, in its very early stages, to look into the possibility of constructing a trail that will stretch from Parkers Prairie to Alexandria, an idea that reflects the growing interest in building connecting trails to more cities in Otter Tail and Douglas counties.
