Grant money funds Sylvan Ponds shoreline reconstruction project in Lanesboro

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The City of Lanesboro received a $60,000 grant from the Minnestoa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to improve the shorelines of Sylvan Park Ponds.

In January, the Minnesota DNR was allotted nearly $150 million in state funds for its " Get Out More " initiative to upgrade shorelines and fishing infrastructure across the state.

Lanesboro city leaders secured this grant money from the DNR initiative and used these funds to make fishing in Lanesboro more accessible for all anglers.

Lanesboro Area Fishing Supervisor for the DNR Melissa Wagner said the Sylvan Park Ponds are the first projects of the DNR's "Get out more" initiative to be completed in the state.

"We did it pretty quick," Wagner stated. "It only took about two weeks to complete, and we are fortunate that we have a construction crew located at the Lanesboro DNR office."

Wagner helped the city secure the grant to improve shoreline fishing in the small Fillmore County community.

"Fishing's a very huge part of the community, and we don't have any natural lakes down here, so we need to try to find other places, other than lakes or docks, that people can fish," Wagner said.

Wayne Pray, a local fishing guide and Root River Fly shop employee, stated these types of projects keep fishing traditions intact.

"It's wonderful, because, you know, this is how we get the future of fly fisherman, or fisherman, like I started when I was three years old," Pray stated.

Lanesboro City Administrator Mitchell Walbridge claimed this project was constructed with disabled anglers in mind.

"A big part of the project was expanding access for those that may have a disability, so there's expanded handicap access for people to safely get closer to the water," Walbridge said.

Walbridge said other towns and cities should put this DNR funding to use.

"I would encourage other communities to take advantage of the 'Get Outdoors More' initiative," Walbridge urged. "It really accelerated our city's ability to tackle a project that we probably wouldn't have been able to accomplish for a number of years."

Wagner mentioned the Sylvan Ponds reconstruction is now only awaiting finishing touches. The ponds will be open for catch and release at the start of January and for harvest in April.

The DNR is currently working to make similar improvements for 20 shorelines across the state.