Trail development in Winsted is defined by a master trail plan adopted by the city in 2008. A major focus of that plan is setting up a city network of trails to accommodate traffic from the Luce Line Trail into town.

The Luce Line Trail is a state-established path that is a former railroad line and has been maintained by the DNR since 1976. It runs 63 miles from the western metro suburb of Plymouth to the small town of Cosmos in west-central Minnesota.

It crosses the southern end of Winsted with the only break in the entire trail being a gap caused by Winsted city development. Because of the separation, there are two entry points into town, one on the east side and one on the west side.

Closing the gap in the Luce Line Trail has been a subject of discussion between city council members and the DNR for many years. The City of Winsted is currently negotiating with the DNR to obtain a piece of property that would connect the trail.

However, there is an advantage to having the gap in the Luce Line Trail in Winsted. The only way visitors have to connect to the trail is by going through town.

Efforts are being made by the city to entice visitors to the lakefront promenade, parks, and the downtown areas of Winsted from those Luce Line entry points.

Where the Luce Line Trail enters Winsted by Southview Park on the east side of town, plans are to create a plaza entry area.

The plaza will provide trail users with seating and landscaping to make the area more inviting. New signage will direct visitors north to Mill Reserve Park and the lakefront promenade.

A paved city trail along the north side of Main Avenue, running east and west, is in the works for 2010. This will provide pedestrians, who previously had to use the street, with a walking path making it safer.

The Luce Line Trail entry on the west side of Winsted enters just south of Grass Lake, on the west side of McLeod County Road. 1.

This past fall, promoters of a proposed Luce Line State Trail Paving project made a presentation to state officials for a $2.5 million capital bonding bill to cover the costs of paving a 25 mile stretch of the western portion of the Luce Line State Trail that connects the cities of Cedar Mills, Hutchinson, Silver Lake and Winsted.

Some of the promoters of the bill included McLeod County Board Chair Kermit Terlinden, Winsted Mayor Steve Stotko, Hutchinson Mayor Steve Cook, and Silver Lake Mayor Bruce Bebo.

The paved surface on the Luce Line Trail’s western half would provide for biking, inline skating, walking, jogging, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Part of the proposal would be a parallel horse trail that will allow additional trail usage.

With the improvements, it is hoped the usage of the trail will increase.

SEE ALSO: Winsted Trail Plan (pdf) | Luce Line Trail web site

Paving this path through Southview Park, right at the section of the Luce Line trail that meets Kingsley Street, was Winsted’s first step for an improved entrance into the city.

This Luce Line plaza drawing is what the entry area to Winsted off of McLeod County Road 9 might look like.