Plainville Township Lake is a county lake one mile west of Plainville. Surrounded by farmland and a narrow margin of woodland, Plainville Township Lake is a beautiful location for a network of trails for walkers, hikers, cyclists and equestrians.
Phase One of Prairie Frontier Trails’ development is to align and clear nearly 7 miles of trail surface around the lake, sometimes incorporating existing clearings. Basic earthwork to prepare the grade, and backfill specific areas, and some landscaping can take place, allowing for the opening of a grass-surface trail. It will also include initial work to open single-track technical mountain biking trails in the woods adjacent to the grass trail.
Later phases will include installing and lighting a crushed-limestone surface trail, a bandstand, restrooms, and other amenities. Larger project goals include Plainville Township Lake becoming an equestrian destination.
Plainville Township Lake was at one time a dirt bike racing destination, and a favorite spot for off-road vehicles. However, after repeated injury claims, the governing board elected to disallow ATV use. Recreational roads around the lake had their maintenance suspended, and the county passed ordinances restricting ATV use on county property to maintained-roads only.
Lacking other facilities for off-road enjoyment, ORV use at Plainville Township Lake continued. Without maintenance programs, roads rapidly deteriorated leading to unmanaged trailblazing and erosion issues. The resulting sense of entitlement among a small group of ATV users has led to conflicts with other lake users, such as hikers and fishermen.
Prairie Frontier Trails supports the validity of ORVs for outdoor recreation, and also respects the governing board’s right to make Plainville Township Lake a quiet recreational area. PFTrails is therefore working to remedy this stalemate and prevent user conflicts by developing an ORV park nearby and separate from Plainville Township Lake.
Beginning in Phase One, the new trailway will be for the exclusive use of pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians: preventing conflicts between these users and ATV users, and promoting more healthy enjoyment of outdoor activities for all.
The final trail will consist of nearly 7 miles of trail, composed of 3-6 inches of gravel base 13 feet wide, with a surface of 3-6 inches of compacted limestone screenings 10 feet wide, lit along the entire length by low voltage lighting for nighttime use. A bandshell may be installed on the north side, and a gazebo on the south. Other amenities will include increasing the frequency of toilets along the route, plus benches and fishing heads. Several bridges such as two over the north inlets, one over the west inlet, one across the spillway and one connecting the south and east sections. trailhead signage. An engineered connection with culvert will be installed where the trail connects to X Road. Finally, the trailway may be enclosed at several places by double-cable slack fencing with posts every 8-12 feet, if trespass warrants the need.
Donations and sponsorship toward the project are appreciated. A complete plan is still being finalized, and the following items will be a part of the finished northern section.
- Main trail;
- Bridge 1 approximately 70′ long, with naming available;
- Bridge 2 approximately 110′ long, with naming available;
- Three entry constrainers with possible naming opportunities;
- Trailhead;
- Fencing;
- At least eight benches/rest stops with naming opportunities available.
Gifts may be made as Friends of the Trail at this link. Sponsorship with recognition is available for each of the project components; please contact us directly to work out the specifics.
Thank you for your interest, and we hope to see you on the trail!
