Summer 2025

Tom Koshiol
Sep 13
2 min read

Column for 09-10-25

It was a tough summer for trail maintenance at the Nature Park – to say the least! It’s pretty hard to spread wood chips on trails that are under two or more feet of water.

The rains just kept coming, and much of the rain that falls west and north of town eventually finds its way to our park. I think it’s no exaggeration to say that at least 80 percent of our nearly-one-mile network of trails was flooded over for most of the summer.

We cancelled more than once this year for rain, and more for flooded conditions. Once the river reaches a certain level, it just doesn’t make sense to bring kids to the park and cut them loose. Even at moderately high levels we explain to them the dangers of strainers and snags should they fall in, warn them to keep their distance, and let them know we are watching – but I was kid once, too. They forget, and the river is a magnet to them regardless of the dangers.

But eventually the river went down and exposed the damage. It’s expected at a park with trails within the river floodplain. It’s a regular occurrence, but usually just happens in the spring. This year, of course, was much worse than normal.

With the exception of the still partially flooded “Mosquito Loop” at the east end of the park, the trails are starting to dry up. The many downed trees have been cleared, and we can finally drive our garden tractors with trailer loads of wood chips to where they need to be. Our chainsaws have had a workout, to be sure, but things are looking good just in time for the mosquitos to finally subside and the fall colors to begin coming out.

Just below and to the west of our picnic shelter is a new park feature that is worth the short walk to see. A massive maple tree with a trunk diameter probably exceeding four feet toppled over the trail with the stormy winds and wet ground. But the tree is so big that the trunk is still eight feet above the ground and the trail continues right under it. It’s a sight to see!

And by the way, many thanks to Larry Schultz for his help with all that chainsawing. For all these years, Larry has faithfully kept our saw chains sharp as his way of doing what he can for the cause. Thanks so much, Larry! Your contribution does not go unnoticed!

Tom KoshiolCrow River Trail Guards“Connecting Kids To The Outdoors”222 River StreetPaynesville, MN 56362 320-250-0464 www.trailguards.orgtom@trailguards.org