MADISON - The Department of Natural Board accepted Wednesday, Sept. 25 the donation of the Badger State Trail trailhead building being constructed in the city of Monroe.

The structure, located at 14th Avenue near Twining Park, is valued at $200,000 and made possible by state Stewardship grants the city received, private fund-raising and $30,000 donated by Colony Brands.

The building will be the first shelter/restroom constructed along the Badger State Trail, which travels 40 miles from Madison to the state line.

Unlike other trailhead facilities, cyclists won't be able to buy trail passes at the building but it will have bicycle racks, a parking lot, an open shelter, and an information kiosk. The kiosk will be maintained by the city, DNR and Friends of the BST and display information about area amenities useful to cyclists.

"Monroe is one of the largest cities along the trail and it's an ideal location as it's next to a city park which is great for trail access and will have additional parking," said Paul Holtan, a DNR spokesman.

Holtan called the project "an excellent example of how different groups and the city can coordinate efforts to make something possible the DNR wouldn't be able to do alone."

He singled out the Friends group for initiating the trailhead project and providing a sustaining effort that got the building underway.

"The Friends group took ownership of the project, they're the people who will use the trail and the building a lot and without their involvement the project wouldn't have gone ahead," he said.

Bernie Robertson, treasurer of the FBST, wasn't available for comment Wednesday on the building project.

The city will be the actual owner of the trailhead building, assuming maintenance responsibilities, which the DNR also appreciates, Holtan said.

Bids for the project came in higher than expected, which Holtan attributed to the cost of the parking lot and other incidentals associated with construction. After some modifications to lower expenses, the construction is expected to cost about $170,000.

The BST intersects with the Cheese Country Trail on the city's west side, the Sugar River State Trail, and Military Ridge State Trail north of the city before reaching the Capital City Trail in Madison.

Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation in support of the Monroe Trailhead Project should send it to Friends of Badger Trail, Inc., Box 805, New Glarus, WI 53574.