For the last several years, much work has been done to build up Lake Brophy County Park.

Walking and bike trails were added. Playground equipment was installed. Sand was brought in to form a beautiful beach area. A bathhouse was constructed.

And now, the plans for the park are continuing as Douglas County was awarded yet another Legacy Grant. The grant is a 50/50 match between the state and the county, meaning the Legacy Fund is granting Douglas County $930,746 as long as the county matches that amount in local funds.

Douglas County Park Superintendent Brad Bonk said the grant money will help finish Lake Brophy County Park with the addition of a visitor center.

Earlier in 2019, the conceptual plan for the visitor center and amenities were completed.

The building will include four-season indoor bathrooms, a covered outdoor picnic shelter and patio, and be available for the public to rent for community and private events, such as reunions, weddings, birthday parties and more.

Grant funding will also cover the cost for the parking lots that will serve the building and the playground, as well as change the existing dead-end road into a looped entrance and exit. Also covered by the Legacy Grant is the completion of the concrete sidewalk system that will provide ADA accessibility to the beach, playground, building, canoe/kayak launch and fishing pier.

Although the grant has been awarded, Bonk said it still needs to be approved by the Legislature this session. The Douglas County Board will also have to accept the grant by entering into an agreement with the state of Minnesota, he said.

“If all of these things fall into place, we would have funds to start working on final design this July, with construction beginning sometime in 2021,” said Bonk.

To date, the county has received funds from three different grants, as well as donations, for Lake Brophy County Park.

The Legacy Fund has contributed more than $3.2 million, the State Park Road Account has funded $517,000, the Federal Recreation Trail Account provided $90,000 and two local health facilities – Alomere Health and Sanford Health – each contributed $30,000, for a total of nearly $4 million.

Douglas County has contributed a total of $771,183 of local funds to date, which Bonk said breaks down to 16 cents for every dollar spent from local taxpayers.

“That is a pretty good deal,” he said.

The 142-acre park west of Alexandria on the north side of Lake Brophy, along the Central Lakes Trail, is the first county park to be added to Douglas County’s park system since 1990.

Timeline

Here’s a brief look at how Lake Brophy County Park came to be:

• Land acquisitions started in 2010 and ended in 2015.

• A master plan was developed in 2016.

• Tree removal and ground work began in 2017.

• Walking trails, a beach, a beach bath house and roadways were put in 2018.

• Mountain biking trails and a playground were added in 2019.

• A fishing pier and a handicap-accessible kayak and canoe launch will be added in 2020.

• A visitor center to be constructed in 2021.