Plans are underway to develop Decorah's new 110 acre Carlson Park

The City of Decorah's newest park could be partially open to the public this fall.

The Decorah Parks & Recreation Department is working on a plan which would create a trail through the 110-acre property just off Pleasant Avenue. Park Director Andy Nimrod says there are plans to create a parking lot on the south edge of the property, near the St. Benedict's Catholic Cemetery. The parking lot would have space for 5-10 vehicles and would be built some time this fall.

As for the trail, Nimrod says the property is "gently sloping."  He says there are just a few desirable plants to worry about when creating the trail—and those areas will be worked around. He adds that some neighbors to the south of the parcel have agreed to pay for their own fencing at the edge of their property and the park property.

A report earlier this year by a forestry consultant about the newly-acquired Carlson property said the 110-acre parcel is "in fairly good shape."