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over 200 acres. Both of these areas are available for passive recreation, such as bird watching, walking, <br /> hiking,snowshoeing,cross-country skiing and wildlife viewing. <br /> The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway,which runs along County Highways il and 16 in Pequot Lakes, is another <br /> important recreational asset. In addition to providing a "forested gateway" to the City, the byway <br /> preserves the scenic value of the area for drivers to enjoy, draws tourists to the City, and provides <br /> additional walking and biking surfaces. The 54-mile Byway connects with the Paul Bunyan State Trail in <br /> Pequot Lakes and Jenkins. This area may be designated as a Bird City area. Birds are an indicator of the <br /> health of the environment. <br /> PUBLIC NATURAL AREAS AND PLAYGROUNDS <br /> Many large pieces of forested land, wetlands and open space in Pequot Lakes are publicly owned. City, <br /> state, and county public land owners and their bureaucracies create chalienges in managing the use of <br /> land for recreation purposes. Nevertheless, coordination is necessary in order to provide the most <br /> benefits to the community. Public land is an important resource for hunting activities.The Pequot Lakes <br /> School District provides athletic fields to be used by students and residents.The City operates several city <br /> parks providing recreational opportunities and locations for community events. The Minnesota DNR <br /> owns the Fire Tower site; the future of the Fire Tower is unknown at this time. �F:1��.�� �h��� �,��,ir,in�ed <br /> sF ril< r,;_- �� t���i r G��. ;� ItiFiF� r �. I�f ! �%ic�ni�� Fly �r���l V� o' (�OUr1[y IP�-,rrlirig [he iOW21 pflOr CO <br /> fltt<�li7d(J,'?� Uf [I115 F'I�i!� <br /> Trailside Park is located in the center of the downtown area. Community festivals, such as Bean Hole <br /> Days and Bands in the Park,utilize both sections of the park. A lar�ge playground i��v�ilab�r s:�,*� <br /> dea2�e�- Planned improvements to this park include expansion to include Bobber Park, addition of a <br /> splash pad, skating rink,a community building,and a flag display. Bobber Park is home to Paul Bunyan's <br /> Ox and Paul Bunyan's Chair, as well as the historic Bobber Water Tower. <br /> Neighborhood parks are important and provide opportunities for close-to-home recreation. Sibley Lake <br /> Park overlooks Sibley Lake. The Sibley Lake Association recently provided the labor to remove the <br /> deteriorating steps and revegetate the hillside, along with moving the fishing pier and providing new <br /> access steps. A playground was recently donated to be utilized by neighborhood children as well as <br /> visitors. <br /> Gildner Park and Trailside North Park are neighborhood parks that include playground equipment, picnic <br /> tables, and barbeque grills. <br /> Pequot Lakes is also home to a Dog Park . The <br /> Dog Park is located under the new City Water Tower and is used by residents and visitors. T"^�;g <br /> Equally important are indoor recreational facilities. The school gym complex and Trailside Center are <br /> indoor facilities that can be utilized. <br /> �DI\/ATC�A!'II ITICf <br /> 5 <br />