Shakopee Mdewakanton Leaders Join Cities to Officially Open Two Area Trails

Ribbons were cut at two Scott County trail projects funded by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) on Tuesday, as these new and improved trails officially opened to the public. The SMSC announced $366,000 in grants in January to fund five Scott County trail projects; the trails in Elko New Market and New Prague were the first to be completed.

In New Prague, a $52,000 project to pave the Green Meadow Trail in Settlers Park was finished, enhancing year-round accessibility to the area. In Elko New Market, the final segment of a $38,000 multi-use trail along Xerxes Avenue was completed, connecting the two communities.

“We are thrilled to have played a part in these trails that will benefit the entire area,” said Chairman Vig, who joined local officials to cut the ribbon on both trails. “These grants have provided the SMSC with an opportunity to help other local governments that share the high priority we place on environmental stewardship and quality trails.”

The Elko New Market and New Prague trail projects were two of the five recipients of $366,000 in SMSC grants to promote trails in Scott County, which were announced in January. A committee of 12 SMSC members evaluated several applications before recommending the Elko New Market and New Prague trails for grants. The other three projects are located in Prior Lake, Savage, and Shakopee.

“On behalf of the city of New Prague, I would like to thank the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for their grant” said New Prague Mayor Chuck Nickolay. “This grant made it possible to replace a wood chip trail with a 10-foot-wide asphalt pathway. Without this grant, we would have not been able to undertake this project. This new pathway goes along with the goal of the city to make New Prague a very walkable community.”

“The City of Elko New Market is very grateful to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux community for their generous grant, which made it possible for the City to complete paving the final 300 foot segment of the City’s east-west bike/hike trail corridor,” said Elko New Market Mayor Tony Gabriel.