Stearns County is asking area residents to help them win a $5,000 dollar grant to go toward replacing the Plum Creek Bridge, which is part of the Beaver Island trail. The Parks Department is applying for a grant through Pepsi’s Refresh project, which is an online grant contest where users can log in and vote for which proposal should receive the money. The proposal which receives the most votes wins the money.

Replacement of the Plum Creek Bridge is necessary to extend the Beaver Island Trail, which begins at the St. Cloud Civic Center, runs by St. Cloud State, and ends at the St. Cloud Country Club. Plans are to connect the trail on the east to Stearns County’s Warner Lake Park, and eventually connect to the Lake Wobegon Trail.
Stearns County has guaranteed $59,000 of the $66,000 dollar price tag. Winning this $5,000 dollar grant would mean only $2,000 dollars remain.