04-04-2025
Fond du Lac Band looks to expand Munger Trail
Apr. 4—CARLTON — Engineers are nearing completion of the preliminary design for the Munger Trail Connection Project, which would connect Black Bear Casino Resort and the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College to the Willard Munger Trail.
Funding is not yet in place, but the proposal would create a 3.8-mile spur trail off the 80-mile state trail running from Hinckley to Duluth. By linking these areas, the project developers hope to enhance safety, accessibility and mobility to provide safer transportation routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
"We're basically wanting to connect the city of Carlton down on the southeast all the way up to the technical college right up here, and then over to the (Black Bear) Casino," said Adam McGill, project manager with KLJ Engineering during an open house at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College on Thursday. His firm was hired by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to design the project.
The preliminary design extends west from Carlton along Carlton Road and forks at 14th Street and Moorhead Road to the college and casino, respectively.
During the presentation, McGill assured the audience that the project would not require easements that would affect private property owners, nor would it require the removal of any trees from private property.
McGill said project developers are working with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to explore using the right-of-way on certain roads.
"We're not going to be taking any property from anybody or asking for easements from anybody out here," McGill said.
Though the trail is intended for pedestrians and cyclists, McGill said county ordinances allow all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles to use certain corridors that may be used for the future trail. Though McGill said engineers will accommodate enough space for ATVs and snowmobiles, the trail is not being designed for their use.
"We'll be maintaining what it's currently used for but not progressing anything further," McGill said.
The Fond du Lac Band is leading the project, but McGill said the trail will belong to Carlton County once it is complete. McGill said plans will be further developed before they are brought to county officials for approval.
The project cost and funding sources remain uncertain. Developers initially planned to leverage federal grants to pay for the project, but they currently are unsure whether they can access those funds due to federal spending cuts.
If funding is found, construction is tentatively planned for 2027-2028.
