Clearwater Road trail costs $150K

The potential cost for a new pedestrian trail on Clearwater Road in Baxter is estimated between $150,000 and $180,000. Consulting engineer Alex Bitter of Widseth presented the figure to the city council on Oct. 20, noting that utility conflicts and easements create a range rather than a fixed price. The proposal is embedded in the draft feasibility report for the 2027 street pavement and reclamation projects.

Mayor Darrel Olson stated that the trail would be a city assessment, meaning it would not be charged to property owners. Public works director and city engineer Trevor Walter confirmed that the cost is 100% a city expense. Walter emphasized that the trail is being assessed to no one, which alleviated concerns regarding the financial burden on neighboring property holders.

Good Samaritan Society owns much of the property in the area, including portions bordering Golf Course Drive, Cypress Drive, and Clearwater Road. Olson noted that the organization faces substantial assessments for other infrastructure improvements. He stated that keeping the trail cost entirely within the city budget was a priority to avoid adding to Good Samaritan's financial obligations as the owner of the former Pine Meadows Golf Course.

The trail would be separated from the street and connect with Golf Course Drive. The Utilities Commission recommended including the trail in the project study. Olson cited resident requests and long-range planning documents that previously envisioned a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Highway 371. That bridge was intended to link the Paul Bunyan State Trail on the east side of the highway to the Clearwater area on the west, potentially extending to Whipple Beach.

Olson said the potential shift in plans for the Highway 371 overpass project has changed the context for the trail. The council is determining whether the trail location should be adjusted northward or if the projects should remain separate entities. Despite these variables, Olson viewed the trail as a safety improvement regardless of the bridge's final location.

Council member Patrick Sundberg inquired about extending the pedestrian path along Edgewood Drive. Sundberg, who owns Jack Pine Brewery, reported that many pedestrians use the service drive, particularly with the presence of a Kwik Trip nearby. Olson explained that the area south of Edgewood Drive lacks the necessary width for a dedicated path due to historical road expansions that reduced available land.

Duane Ruona, a resident of Country Club Estates, attended the meeting to support the trail. Ruona stated that he and his neighbors frequently walk and bike in the area. He noted that walking on the grass is often necessary due to traffic on Clearwater Road, a situation he expects to worsen when detour routes for the Highway 371 overpass are implemented. Ruona argued that a dedicated trail would improve safety for those connecting to the Paul Bunyan State Trail and the path along Cypress Drive.

The council reached a consensus to keep the Clearwater Road trail in the feasibility study. Walter noted that a separate bike path connecting Novotny Road to Woida Road is scheduled for completion by July 1 of the following year, which may also influence pedestrian traffic patterns in the area.