Making Chisholm a 'biketown' is goal of $500K IRRR grant

EVELETH — The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board approved more than $1 million in regional trail grants at its Tuesday, Oct. 17, meeting.

This includes $500,000 to the city of Chisholm to create a master plan for the future expansion of the Redhead Mountain Bike Park and to construct bike lanes and other in-town amenities to improve the city's connectivity for cyclists.

The goal is to establish Chisholm as a destination "biketown," a news release stated.

The city of Virginia will receive $250,000 to re-route a floating trail on Silver Lake, which will complete the contiguous trail around the shore.

And Crow Wing County received $110,000 to expand recreational opportunities at the Milford Mine Memorial Park. This includes another 1 and a quarter miles of walking trails, a pier and two picnic pavilions.

Other grants included:

• City of Biwabik: $28,500 to construct a paved trail connecting a park pavilion to a gazebo located within the Biwabik Park in the center of town.
• Iron Range Tourism Bureau: $100,000 to fund the Northern St. Louis County Trails Task Force Small Trail Projects grant program. The program is administered by the tourism bureau and provides grants to cover costs related to trails and trail facility/amenity projects in the region.
• Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club: $31,150 to purchase two snowmobiles, one ATV and a trailer to help groom and maintain various ski trails in Itasca County.

Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation is funded through taxes paid by Minnesota’s mining industry.