Thanks to Block Portrait Studios and Clover Montessori School for their support.
Teachers and volunteers from Garlough Environmental Magnet School are working with the City of West St. Paul to add a new trail to the forest in Garlough Park.
Why: “Because teachers requested it!” said Kim Benton, the magnet coordinator and iNature teacher at Garlough. “This new trail will provide new opportunities for learning outdoors.”
How: A School Forest Committee composed of teachers, parents, community members, and city staff started the planning work and led the volunteer efforts. Any community members interested in joining the committee can reach out to Benton.
Timeline: Work started on the trail earlier this summer and they hope to have it complete by Garlough’s annual Hoot Hike fundraiser on October 11. They hope to have an official trail opening then.
Volunteer: The next volunteer date is August 22 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Any adults from the community are welcome, and gloves, tools, and bug spray will be provided. Students will be helping with the project once school is back in session.
Where: The new, roughly quarter-mile path goes south of the paved trail toward Marie and around the wetland and back to the paved trail. It skirts the edge of the disc golf course and will share some sections of trail that the disc golf players use.
- “The location for this trail is easily accessible for teachers, is mostly flat, and includes interesting features—crosses a stream at two different points, logs to climb over, habitat variation, and a large clearing for cloud gazing,” said Benton. “I hope teachers are able to find learning connections at several different points along this new loop.”
Sept. 29, 2025 Update: See the Trail
Watch our video to see the trail.
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