Upgrades planned at Redhead Mountain Bike Park, leaders call it a great example of mineland reclamation

For 25 years now, the Mineland Vision Partnership has been working on ways to shape the evolving landscape on the Range for future generations.

On Wednesday, at their meeting, the group marked the anniversary.

“It’s about the mining companies coming together, with the communities and governments, that didn’t really take place in the past decades. Now we are all at the same table,” explained Jim Plummer, from Mining and Reclamation at Iron Range Resources. “

Reclamation projects include things like the Redhead Mountain Bike Park in Chisholm.

“There’s been a history of progression of the importance of mineland reclamation. And help create the foundation for what can be done with the land after or in between periods of mining. That’s what good reclamation can do,” said Pete Kero, from BARR Engineering and the Mineland Vision Partnership.

Jordan Metsa, from the Minnesota Discovery Center, made the announcement after that meeting that over $2 million dollars in upgrades are coming as part of Phase 2 at the park.

“Some of the funding will be for a paved pump track and a skills course similar to the one built in Tioga. Plus there will be more amenities to make it a better experience for families,” he said. And they’ll be able to add about 10 miles of trail to the 25 that exist now.

More about Redhead: https://www.mndiscoverycenter.com/visit/redhead-mountain-bike-park/

More about Mineland Vision Partnership: https://mvpmn.org/

Money for Phase 2 is from the legislature, the public, and grants.