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Lyon Co. pursues grant funds for Garvin, Twin Lakes parks

MARSHALL — A pair of grant applications brought to the Lyon County Board this week could help add amenities to county parks. On Tuesday, commissioners gave county staff the approval to apply for grant funds for boat rental equipment at Twin Lakes Park, and for interpretive trail signs at Garvin Park.

The Twin Lakes Park proposal had been before the county board once before. Earlier this month, Lyon County Environmental Administrator Roger Schroeder had proposed to apply for a Connecting People to the Outdoors Grant from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission. The grant funds would purchase kayaks and a pedal boat that could be used by visitors at Twin Lakes Park.

However, commissioners told Schroeder to look into options for providing storage and safety gear for the boating equipment.

The proposal Schroeder brought back on Tuesday was to apply for a roughly $29,700 grant to buy an iPaddlePort system. Schroeder said this system is similar to one already being used at Plum Creek Park in Redwood County. Park visitors could rent kayaks or paddle boards through an online service, and unlock them from a stall at the park with a keypad code. The rental kayaks or paddle boards would come with life jackets.

“It’s a really manageable system,” Schroeder said.

The grant would have a 10% county match of about $3,300. If Lyon County gets the grant money, the iPaddlePort system could be ready for use by late summer of this year, Schroeder said.

County commissioners gave approval for the grant application.

In a separate action, commissioners also gave Schroeder approval to apply for a $7,872 grant from the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP). The grant funds would go to the purchase of 16 interpretive signs for trails and the main picnic area at Garvin Park.

Schroeder said the signs would give hikers information about nature, like the environment and wildlife at the park. He said it could be another way to give park visitors, including kids and families, something fun to do while hiking.

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