Back Roads

from THE LAND ~ May 8, 2020 ~ Northern Edition

by The Land

Farm and Food File

Public park, private push

“I was driving by one morning and a crew was placing big boulders in the entry and enclosing the park with a fence,” said area resident Tom Bender. “I asked what was going on and they said they got orders from St. Paul to close it for lack of funding.”

At that time the site was officially called a state wayside park and was under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources. Bender and a small group of citizens met with the DNR to see if there were options to keep the park open. DNR officials said the department was spending $4,000 annually for park maintenance with no revenue coming in.

When the citizens offered to maintain the park, the DNR balked – fearing it would set a precedence of private control over DNR property. Undaunted, the group contacted state legislators Tom Neville and Laura Brod, and Sibley County officials in hopes of transferring ownership of the property to the county.

Sibley County wasn’t keen on the idea of maintaining and patrolling another park. But public support was growing – resulting in the creation of Friends of Rush River, Inc. The non-profit organization convinced the county it could and would maintain and manage the 160-acre site.

“It’s been going great!” exclaimed Bender, who has served as president of the Friends organization since day one. “It’s a great area for bird watching, we have nature trails and trails for horseback riding. And, of course, camping is very popular.” Sibley County

Over the years the Friends have supplied hundreds of labor hours creating trails, clearing brush and noxious weeds, improving amenities and transforming the wayside park into a family-friendly destination. A number of camp sites and day-camp sites are located on a secluded wooded hill. This area is closed to horse riding. The larger portion of the park hugs the banks of the Rush River and serves as the main campground for horse owners; although there is plenty of room for campers without horses as well. “I can’t say what our capacity would be,” admitted Bender. “We’ve never run out of room, I know that.”

Bender said the park is open 24/7. Camping continues well into the fall and the county allows snowmobiles in the park. Because horse and vehicle traffic can be damaging in wet spring conditions, park use is discouraged in March and April. During the last weekend in April, volunteers gather to prepare the park for the upcoming season.

“We have three big expenses in operating the park,” said Bender. “We have to pump the septics, cut the grass and pay for garbage pickup.” To offset expenses, a donation is appreciated for park use. Suggested donations are $3 per day, and $10 for overnight campers. No reservations are taken and sites fill on a first-come, first-served basis. “There’s no registration at the park,” Bender added, “but the county likes to know if you’re going to be camping there in case there’s a tornado or something. They like to have an idea of who is there, so it would be good to let them know.”

Anyone can join the Friends of Rush River and Bender says the more the merrier. The group meets once a month, November through April. It hosts a large fundraising dance in Henderson, Minn. on the first Saturday of March. Interested parties can reach Bender at P.O. Box 282, Henderson, MN 56044; or by phone at (507) 248-3230. v N estled along M i n n e s o t a ’ s Rush River, the Rush River County Park has been a place for solitude and family gatherings for generations. On a warm spring morning, campers, hikers and horse riders were all taking advantage of Sibley County’s hidden gem. But in 2002 the state of Minnesota was shutting the site down.

Don’t replace your metal roof. We can repair it.

Metal roofs can be repaired and recoated to look and perform like new. Call today for a free quote. 855-612-8038

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION. 855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com Serving Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Spray foam insulation prevents condensation in barns.

Call today for a free quote. 855-612-8038

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION. 855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com Serving Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Spray foam insulation for shops and sheds.

Call today for a free quote. 855-612-8038

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION. 855-612-8038 www.greenerworldsolutions.com Serving Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.