Jay C. Hormel Nature Center to improve trail access with major paving project – Austin Daily Herald

The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is set to begin work on a major trail improvement project that will pave 1.45 miles of existing natural surface trails and repair 0.2 miles of existing paved trails. 

This project will significantly enhance accessibility, especially for visitors with mobility challenges, and improve connections between the Nature Center’s interpretive center and its trail system. 

According to a Thursday release from the Nature Center, the total project cost is $330,630, funded through a combination of state and local support. The project is made possible by a $255,552 grant from the State of Minnesota’s Legacy Fund through the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC). Local match funding includes $63,888 from the Friends of the Hormel Nature Center and $11,190 from the Austin Eagles. 

This funding is available because the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center was designated as a regionally significant park by the GMRPTC in 2019. The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission is a state-appointed body that evaluates and recommends funding for parks and trails of regional or statewide importance outside the Twin Cities metro area. It helps ensure Legacy funds support high-quality, well-managed, and publicly accessible outdoor recreation opportunities across Greater Minnesota. 

Construction will begin soon, and temporary trail closures are expected during portions of the project. Trail segments scheduled for improvement include portions of the Black, Blue, Yellow, and Red trails. 

“This project has been a long time coming, and we’re excited to get more people out experiencing the prairies and forests at the Nature Center,” said Luke Reese, Director of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. 

Currently, the Nature Center has approximately nine miles of trails, but only 1.65 miles are paved. When excluding the city bike trail along the south boundary, just 0.9 miles of trail are accessible via hardened surfaces. These improvements will more than double that accessibility and allow visitors to reach the Nature Center’s observation tower, 0.9 miles from the parking lot, via a fully paved route.

The goals of this project include: 

• Adding over 1.5 miles of paved trail options for visitors requiring hardened surfaces 
• Providing access to additional habitats including restored prairies, wetlands, marshes, and pine forest 
• Connecting the new interpretive center, completed in 2017, to the existing paved trail system 
• Improving access to the popular observation tower 

“The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is for everyone,” said John Schramek, president of the Friends of the Hormel Nature Center. “Upgrading some of the main trails to provide better access, especially for people with mobility issues, is a big step in ensuring everyone can get out and enjoy nature.” 

While these improvements will enhance accessibility for many visitors, bicycles and dogs will continue to be limited to the city-maintained bike trail along the southern boundary of the Nature Center. No changes are being made to those policies as part of this project. 

The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center has grown from 123 acres to more than 500 acres, and with this project, continues its mission to provide inclusive, meaningful access to the natural world for all. 

For more information or updates on trail closures, please visit www.hormelnaturecenter.org.