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NEXT TRAIL TO TAKE
NEXT TRAIL TO TAKE REGIONAL TRAIL OFFERS IMPORTANT LINK
PROVIDES SCENIC VISTAS
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The new Highway 5 Regional Trail offers scenic vistas as it passes through the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NORBERT LUCAS/ MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM
BY LYDIA CHRISTIANSON
The new Highway 5 Regional Trail is now open for the community to enjoy.
The 1.8-mile trail runs from Century Boulevard in Chanhassen, under Highway 41, through the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and connects to the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail in Victoria.
The project was completed in November 2021. Highway 5 is a busy transportation corridor and there was a significant trail gap, said Chanhassen Park and Recreation Director Jerry Ruegemer. Due to the gap, people didn’t feel safe walking or biking along that area.
“The project vastly improves public safety and mobility for pedestrians and cyclist,” said Carver County Parks and Recreation Director Martin Walsh, via email. “The impact/benefit is that this new TH5 Regional Trail segment removes a trail gap.”
The section of trail between Minnewashta Parkway and Century Boulevard was the only area that did not have an off-street alternative paralleling Highway 5 for bikers and pedestrians between Victoria and Eden Prairie, Walsh said.
The project connects over 100 miles of local trail systems of
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The trail project was a collaboration between Carver County, the city of Chanhassen, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and Life Time Fitness.
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A ribbon cutting ceremony for the regional trail was held in October 2021.
Victoria, Chanhassen and Chaska, and links to the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail and Carver Park Reserve, Walsh said. Additionally, the trail connects destination areas of the Arboretum, the downtown areas of Chanhassen and Victoria, and provides connections to Life Time Fitness and Paisley Park, he added.
According to Walsh, it’s tough to beat the views provided as users pass through the grounds of the Arboretum, historic apple research plots, pine groves, rolling topography, maple trees and large wetlands.
“It’s a transportation corridor for people wanting to bike to work,” Ruegemer said, adding it’s also “a recreation corridor for people that want to walk, rollerblade, skate, or bike ride on that trail corridor.”
What makes Chanhassen special is its commitment to the park and trail systems, Ruegemer said, adding that residents use them all year long.
“There certainly were obstacles going through this great of a project, but we hope it’s going to be well worth it for our residents and our community and our regional community as well,” Ruegemer said. “It’s going to be a big draw for people.”
The project was a collaboration between Carver County, the city of Chanhassen, the Arboretum and Life Time Fitness. The project was something that needed multiple jurisdictions to make it happen, Ruegemer said.
“It really took on a life of its own with trying to get this completed,” Ruegemer said.
The funding for the project was split between the collaborators. The city of Chanhassen was responsible for 25%, the Arboretum was responsible for 25% and Carver County contributed 50% of the funds, Ruegemer said.
Close to $1.2 million in federal grants were received, as well as private support, according to the city of Chanhassen. Life Time Fitness supported the project and provided the right-of-way through their corporate campus in Chanhassen.
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The Highway 5 Regional Trail and underpass project was completed in November 2021.
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