The Lake Wobegon Trail is one step closer to expanding thanks to the help of a Minnesota grant.

Stearns County Parks Director Peter Theismann says the department received a $250,000 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Legacy Grant that will be applied to the extension of the Central Minnesota trail.

This extension will add approximately 3.2 miles of paved trail from St. Joseph to Rivers Edge Park in Waite Park, connecting the Lake Wobegon Trail with the Harold P. Nelson Healthy Living Trail.

The Parks Department is also in talks with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway to purchase additional property for the Lake Wobegon Trail.

To date, the department has raised about $2.34 million for the expansion project. Another $700,000 is needed to fully complete the connection.