By Lori Ehde
The failed agreement between the state and landowner Dennis DeJongh means Rock CountyÕs bike path will follow Plan B.
The recreational trail will continue from the sidewalk on Blue Mound Avenue in Luverne north to the Blue Mounds State Park where it will cross County Road 8 and follow the right-of-way to the quarry parking lot just east of Tom BirkelandÕs acreage on the curve.
State officials and trail planners had hoped to purchase the Dennis DeJongh farm land and route the bike path along the east side of that property near the road. It would ultimately connect with the driveway near the lower lake dam and head into the state park.
With no purchase agreement on the DeJongh land, the route will now follow an existing service pathway closer to the cliff line used by park personnel.
That route will bring trail traffic through the parking lot and along the north side of the Dennis DeJongh fence line. At the tree line, it will loop back out to County Road 8 around a piece of recently reconstructed prairie.
It will head back west toward the beach and campgrounds at the lower dam driveway on the north end.
Rupp Construction was awarded the bid on the project last week for $365,369, and all dirt work will be completed by fall.
The trail has been planned for a few years and will receive 80 percent federal funding, 10 percent from the state and 10 percent from the county.