A New Regional Park, One Portion At A Time

The Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Family Fun Day was set to proceed come rain or sunshine. And shine it did. With the sun gleaming, a clear blue sky and temperatures in the low eighties, June 13th, 2009, was a perfect day to spend exploring a proposed new park. The Family Fun Day was meant to introduce the public to what will become the new Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park. People who came to explore the location just south of County Road 39 off Briarwood Avenue NE in Monticello Township had the opportunity to see first-hand what the park will offer. The 1,200 acre parcel of land is a healthy mix of forest, open fields, wetland habitat, and four lakes: First, Mud, Long, and Bertram. Currently, the site is home to the Monticello YMCA's Camp Manitou.

The activities at the park's Family Fun Day highlighted the area's unique features. Forest games, guided interpretive hikes, and Boy Scout demonstrations took advantage of the thick oak forest. Under the heat of the day, lake interests like canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and shore fishing were popular. Xcel Energy sponsored demonstrations at the amphitheater, including a review of summer fishing tactics, song bird identification, and a live raptor presentation by the Wildlife Science Center.

Other prominent local organizations made their own contributions, like a reptile petting zoo from the Minnesota Herpetological Society, horse drawn wagon rides sponsored by TDS Telecom, tree seedling distribution supported by Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association, and a free picnic served by the Monticello Lions Club. The Wright County Mounted Patrol mingled with visitors. Even Miss Monticello candidates were in attendance, showing off their artistic skills with nature themed face painting.

In presenting the future Bertram Chain of Lakes Park to the public, the Family Fun event accomplished an important step in a creation process that has been ongoing since 2005. That year, when the YMCA indicated it was considering sale of the property to finance several programs, the City of Monticello and Wright County jumped at the chance to develop a regional park.

The City and County immediately began working together with the YMCA to purchase the property, with an ultimate goal of preserving the unique natural landscape while also creating a recreational area for public enjoyment. An agreement approved by the City Council and County Board was developed to structure a $20.5 million joint purchase, slated to occur over the next few years. The arrangement includes a lease that allows the YMCA to continue day camp operations at the site for 99 years.

By taking the initiative on this project, Wright County and the City of Monticello are actively working towards improving quality of life for residents of the region. Due to a sharp increase in local development, steadily depleting natural resources, and one of the fastest growing populations in the state, preservation of the Bertram Chain of Lakes area is important for the future of the county. Protecting the six miles of shoreline, 615 acres of forest, and 245 acres of wetlands now will ensure its existence for generations to come.

In return, the park will provide a multitude of benefits to the communities it serves. The area's unique terrain will accommodate many passive and active recreational pursuits, like swimming, hiking, camping, non-motorized boating, and more. The high-quality wildlife habitat allows for interests like environmental education and bird-watching. Ownership of the Bertram Chain of Lakes area would provide Monticello crucial access to ball fields and active play facilities. Finally, a recent survey from Hennepin County indicates that property values may go up, as people are willing to pay up to 4.8% more to live near open spaces larger than 50 acres.

With the assistance of the state, the first phase of acquisition occurred in 2008. For a price of $3.6 million, 319 acres in the southeast portion of the park were purchased. Wright County and Monticello each contributed one-third of the cost, while the State of Minnesota chipped in the final third with $1 million from the Environmental Trust Fund and $200,000 from the Department of Natural Resources.

The city and the county will make incremental purchases of the remaining acreage by 2013 as funding is secured through grants and donations. Requests for more state funding and three grant applications to purchase more parcels of land have already been submitted for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

With some of the land finally in hand, the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Advisory Council was created to guide the master planning process. Because this park will primarily be used by local residents, suggestions from the public will be the driving force behind its development.

The Advisory Council, which includes two citizens at large and representatives of both Monticello and Wright County, will be instrumental in creating opportunities for the community to provide input and keep the public abreast of park improvements. The Advisory Council was on hand at the Family Fun Day distributing surveys, seeking to gather feedback from visitors as they explored the area's resources. As they learned what the park will have to offer, young and old alike were excitedly talking about the many recreational possibilities that may soon become reality. Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves, surrounded by the beauty of nature with plenty of entertainment to enjoy and free food to eat.