A $450,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will help pay for paving the Shooting Star Recreational Trail from Adams to Rose Creek.
The Mower County Board on Tuesday amended its budget to allow for the grant, which will be used to offset costs of paving the trail from Adams to Rose Creek; earth moving and bridge work in the area were completed in 2010.
"It's essentially money in, money out," said County Engineer Mike Hanson of the DNR grant. "We pay (the contractor), then we're reimbursed."
The county will request bids for the project next month.
The Shooting Star Trail is 15 miles of 8-foot wide asphalt from LeRoy to Adams. The path from Adams to Rose Creek is not yet paved.
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The Rose Creek City Council has determined a route for the trail to go through the city. With the trail nearing Rose Creek, discussions are set to pick up regarding the best route for it to reach Austin.
Much of the trail follows the abandoned Milwaukee Road rail line.
The plan is to eventually connect the Shooting Star Trail with the Blazing Star Trail in Albert Lea and with other trails across the state and into Iowa.
