Ravine Park won’t be Cottage Grove’s forgotten park much longer.
The 515-acre park is getting a makeover, with a new entryway and roads planned for next year. In addition, other ideas are being proposed, including a zip line, camper cabins and a 25-mile trail linking it with Big Marine Park in Stillwater.
The Washington County board of commissioners voted June 28 to launch a series of improvements designed to maximize usage of the often-overlooked park.
“The board has identified Ravine as a gem in the rough,” said county engineer Wayne Sandberg. “It is an underutilized and little-known park.”
Next year, two projects will begin, at a total cost of about $2 million.
The park will get a new entryway on Innovation Road/County Road 19 on the park’s west side. Roads throughout the park will be improved or rebuilt.
“The roads are a backbone for everything else we are going to do,” Sandberg said.
After that, other improvements might be done. Sandberg said these are part of a “concept plan,” or wish list for the park.
On that list is a 25-mile trail between Ravine Park and Big Marine Park Reserve.
The trail would run north from Ravine along County Road 19, hook up with existing pathways north of Bailey Road in Woodbury, and continue to the Lake Elmo Park Preserve and on to Big Marine.
Other ideas — with no price tag or starting dates — are:
- A “signature playground,” distinctive enough to draw families from a wide area.
- A canoe launch area.
- A lookout tower, zip line and camper cabins.
- New picnic and play areas.
- Improved trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing.
Those improvements would not be started for at least another five years, according to county Parks Planning Manager John Elholm.