ORA Trails, a La Crosse-based nonprofit, received a $1,150,000 Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grant to develop the Community Trail Farm on more than 270 acres of land along Pammel Creek. While ORA Trails has been advocating for trail access and collaborating on projects in the La Crosse area for over 20 years, this is the organization’s first land acquisition. They plan to build 15 miles of mountain bike trails and a nature education center on this parcel of old farmland.
ORA Executive Director Jed Olson sees the park as providing something for everyone.
“We really want to make sure that there’s activities for every level of enthusiast, and those who aren’t yet enthusiasts, and we want to get them out here with the easy button, and then trick them into being enthusiasts of all things outdoors,” shared Olson at a grant announcement ceremony.
When completed in 2025, the trail system at the Community Trail Farm will provide access from the Holmen area to Goose Island, south of La Crosse and connect to over 100 miles of existing trails.
WIZM News and the La Crosse Tribune reported on the ceremony with area legislators and other community leaders announcing the Knowles-Nelson award for the project. The project was also featured on Singletracks.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program plays a crucial role in supporting projects like the Trail Farm, enabling organizations to create and maintain outdoor recreational spaces that benefit local communities while promoting environmental stewardship. Over the past three decades, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has protected more than 750,000 acres of land and supported the development of hundreds of trails, parks, and natural areas across the state.
Featured image by Rino Peroni, 2014.
