Friends group forms for Luce Line Trail

Parks & Trails Council is happy to welcome a new friends group to the network of volunteers working on behalf of parks and trails in Minnesota. The Friends of Luce Line West was established this September.

These Friends are a collection of community leaders and trail enthusiasts from the areas around Hutchinson and Winsted in Central Minnesota, about 60 miles due west from the Twin Cities. While they have been busy with the logistics of starting a friends group—things like recruiting the first members, setting up a bank account, writing a mission—they were also busy celebrating a major accomplishment with the paving of approximately 15 miles of the trail this fall.

Steve Cook, the former mayor of Huthinson and a board member for Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is the president of the group. He has been working tirelessly on behalf of this trail for years and is excited to now have a group of dedicated members to help in the effort.

With the major paving project completed, the group’s focus is now in promoting it. They want to see more people enjoying the trail and recognizing its recreation, health and community benefits. Cook mentioned that the group may start working to help add amenities such as benches, tables, and shelters as well as planting trees and restoring prairie along the trail.

Parks & Trails Council is the official fiscal sponsor of this group, meaning we act as their nonprofit umbrella.