Washington County Celebrates Nordic Center, Lighted Ski Trails

Washington County celebrated the completion of its Nordic Center and lighted ski trail in the Lake Elmo Park Reserve with a short ceremony Jan. 11.

      Related: Nighttime Cross-Country Skiing in Washington County

A ribbon cutting at the event featured Commissioner Fran Miron, District 1, Stan Karwoski, a Washington County Parks and Open Space Commissioner, Commissioner Autumn Lehrke, District 4, Commissioner Lisa Weik, District 5, Commissioner Gary Kriesel, District 3, Commissioner Ted Bearth, District 2, and Susan Kent, state senator from District 53.

Weik, County Board chair, recounted the history of the center’s construction.

The Nordic Center will serve as a trailhead for lighted trails, which provide skiing on 5.4 miles of trails—the longest lighted trail system in the Midwest.

The building will also be available to host parks programs throughout the year.

The center and the trails were funded by state Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment funds and state and Metropolitan Council bonds. No county levy was used on the project.