The new Glendalough State Park visitor center. (Otter Tail Lakes Country Facebook page)
Battle Lake, MN – On Saturday, June 14th, Glendalough State Park will celebrate the completion of its new trail center and the trail extension past Sunset Lake.
The new trail center features bike rentals, restrooms, a meeting and education space that accommodates up to 40, and convenient parking with accessible stalls. The meeting room can be reserved year-round for meetings and events, and is the site of interpretive programs in the park.
Park Manager Jeffrey Wiersma says that while the building is up and running, there’s more work to be done. “We’re looking forward to, in the future, having more in the building for people to look at. Exhibits on the natural resources in the park and that kind of thing,” Wiersma said. “We’ve been through a lot to get this building done, but we’re not done with it yet. There’s going to be more to see here in the next couple years.”
The Sunset Trail extension provides a paved trail to the park’s entrance at Highway 16 and connects to the 12-mile Glendalough Trail that links the park with the city of Battle Lake. This trail extension makes it easier for park visitors to access the city, and for Battle Lake residents to bike to the park.
The trail center and trail extension projects are a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Glendalough Park Partners, the park’s non-profit friends’ group. Contributions from state park friends groups are important contributions to Glendalough and other state parks across Minnesota. The total cost of the projects was $3.8 million which includes funding from state bonding, the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund, a Federal Recreational Trail Program grant and private contributions through the Glendalough Park Partners.
Visitors on Saturday can enjoy an open house at the new building from 10 a.m. until noon with cake and lemonade served by the Glendalough Park Partners. A program begins at 11 a.m. with appearances from State Senator Jordan Rasmusson, Battle Lake Mayor Richard Bullard, and senior DNR officials.
Saturday is a Free Park Day at all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas, and no vehicle permit is required to visit Glendalough State Park for this event.
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