2014 Circle Trail Restoration Project

Date: August 6, 2014
Contact: Cody Goraczkowski, 507-825-5464 Ext. 213

TRAIL RESTORATION PROJECT

(Pipestone, MN)Superintendent Glen Livermont announced today that construction for the Circle Trail Restoration Project will begin August 11th and end approximately August 29th, 2014. By widening the trail, and complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, this project will make the 3/4 mile walking trail more user friendly, enhancing visitor experiences. At all times during construction visitors will be able to access the Winnewissa Falls, but only from one side or the other, and there will also be times when whole sections of the trail will be closed to visitor use.

"Knowing how important a walk on the Circle Trail can be for the local community and visitors to the area, I would like to apologize for any inconvenience this construction project may cause, and to ask for everyone's' cooperation with any detours or delays. It is vitally important for safety reasons that all trail
users please comply with any closure signage they may encounter.""To understand how exciting it is to see the beginning of construction, the public needs to know that this phase of the project is the culmination of nearly 8 years of planning and design. While this time span is not typical for most projects, this project presented many challenges in design and environmental compliance. I hope the public will make full use of the trail and join in with park staff in appreciating the improvements" stated Superintendent Livermont.

National parks not only protect and preserve the places we most value;they also add enormous economic value to nearby communities and the entire nation. With more than 84 million acres of spectacular scenery, 17,000 miles of trails, 5,000 miles of shoreline, 27,000 historic and prehistoric structures, and 100 million museum items, national parks welcome more than 280 million visitors a year.

In addition to the Circle Trail Pipestone National Monument offers an orientation film, museum, picnic area and a gift shop. As a visitor you will be able to explore American Indian culture and the natural resources of the tallgrass prairie. Established by Congress in 1937 to protect the historic pipestone quarries, the site is considered sacred by many American Indians. Spanning centuries of use, American Indians continue to quarry pipestone at the Monument. To learn more about visiting the Pipestone National Monument and the NPS passes, visit the park's web site at www.nps.gov/pipe.

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov