Former Lawmaker Returns to State Capitol as Rochester Mayor

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - Rochester Mayor Kim Norton paid a visit to the State Capitol yesterday to testify in support of two bills that would benefit Rochester and surrounding areas. It marked her first time back at the Capitol since she retired from the State House in 2016.

Norton spoke at a meeting of the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division to discuss a $1.5 million bonding request for the Willow Creek Trail and a $2.75 million bonding request for Cascade Lake Regional Park. The city hopes to have funding for both projects included in the next bonding bill considered by the state legislature.

The proposed Willow Creek Trail would connect the planned Gamehaven Regional Park to the existing city trail near Willow Creek Middle School. The Cascade Lake Regional Park has been under development for many years. A news release from the mayor's office indicates $10 million has already been invested in the park and another $2 million in private funding was recently awarded to the project.