Ottertail receives funding for Tyler Wohlers Trail
News | Published on June 29, 2023 at 5:19pm EDT | Author: henningmaster
0Trail to stretch from boat landing to Ottertail
During the 2023 legislative session, Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) helped secure critical funding for bonding projects in Otter Tail County, including $55,000 for the Tyler Wohlers Memorial Trail. Representative Tom Murphy (R-Underwood) serves as the chief author of this bill in the House. This new funding will be essential to completing the total trail construction project.
“Senator Rasmusson was instrumental to securing the funding necessary to get the Tyler Wohlers Memorial Trail project underway,” said Ottertail Mayor Ronald Grobeck. “The City of Ottertail is immensely grateful for Jordan’s continued leadership, and we would like to thank him for serving as a strong voice for our community and its needs.”
In July 2018, Tyler Wohlers passed away after he was struck by a vehicle while walking along Highway 78 between Battle Lake and Ottertail. This untimely death caused the family and friends of Wohlers, including his grandfather, Bernie Steve, to do something that would prevent this from happening again. The new trail will ensure pedestrians can safely walk along this highway from the south of Ottertail to the Pelican Bay Fishing Pier.
“Over the last three years, we have worked hard to secure the funds needed to complete this trail,” Steve said. “Now, with the final funds, we will be able to reach our goal to honor Tyler and provide a lasting trail for his family and friends along with a safe place for everyone to walk along and enjoy! Thanks so much to Jordan and Tom for their support!”
With the strong support of the communities of Ottertail and Wahpeton, Wohlers family and friends, businesses and organizations, $178,832 has already been collected over the past several years. Rasmusson is working with community leaders to put in additional state funding requests for this project.
“The Tyler Wohler Memorial Trail will allow kids to safely walk along busy Highway 78 to fish on the first-class fishing pier on Pelican Bay and get to the DNR public access. The new funding carried us over the top and will be fundamental to getting the memorial trail project to the finish line,” said Grobeck.
Construction of the trail is expected to being in the spring of 2024. Project timeline updates will be shared on the City of Ottertail website at www.cityofottertail.com.