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5. Equestrian Trails. Horses are an important part of Hugo. Equestrian activities <br />provide recreation opportunities for many residents and nonresidents. Most <br />equestrian activities in Hugo occur on private land, but equestrians also ride their <br />horses on the side of rural roads and on Hardwood Creek Trail. Horses are <br />considered a legal form of transportation and can use roads throughout the city. <br />Equestrians have expressed a need for additional horse trails in Hugo. Perhaps <br />the most effective way for the City to provide horse trails is to construct the trails <br />in conjunction with City road improvements. Those roads that are most used by <br />horses should include a minimum 4 -foot wide, level path in the ditch. If road <br />improvements include an 8 -foot wide paved shoulder, then an additional 4 feet of <br />unpaved area immediately adjacent to the shoulder could be designated for use <br />by equestrians. Similar to the snowmobile associations, equestrians should <br />continue to negotiate with landowners to develop trails on private lands. The <br />Minnesota Horse Council can provide information on obtaining grant money to <br />help fund these trails. Equestrian trails, like all trails, must be designed to be safe <br />and enjoyable for the users. They must also be designed to minimize potential <br />negative impacts including soil erosion and soil compaction, damage to <br />vegetation, trespassing, disposal of manure, and conflicts with motor vehicles. <br />The following guidelines will help the City in planning or evaluating proposed <br />equestrian trails in Hugo: <br />a) Involve the Minnesota Horse Council and Hugo's equestrians in the city <br />road improvement planning process. Where appropriate provide trails <br />along city roads as road improvements are made. <br />b) Avoid horse trails in areas where erosion or compaction may be a <br />problem; for example in creek beds or on steep slopes. <br />c) Avoid trails in significant natural areas. Heavily used equestrian trails can <br />compact soil and damage sensitive vegetation. <br />d) Avoid trails in wetlands or trails that are immediately adjacent to creeks or <br />lakes where soil erosion and sedimentation may become a problem. <br />e) Limit where equestrian trails cross roads. Where trails must cross roads, <br />provide crossings in areas with high visibility and where road traffic can be <br />controlled. Also provide signs that identify trail crossings. <br />f) Maintain trails regularly to ensure they are safe. <br />g) Provide signage as needed to identify trail boundaries and reduce the <br />potential for trespassing. <br />6. Nature Paths. The following guidelines will assist the City in designing and <br />constructing nature paths: <br />Chapter 7 7-36 <br />Parks, Trails, & Open Spaces �j <br />_`�l lU90 <br />