The city of Stillwater, suddenly finding itself rich with walking and cycling trails, soon will float its vision for a new master plan in a public open house.

The vision is to "build on Still­water's history and natural setting to become a leading active transportation community and one of Minnesota's premier trail destinations," the city said Friday.

Now that the new Brown's Creek State Trail has opened — providing a 5.8-mile recreational connection from downtown Stillwater to the Gateway State Trail in the city of Grant — the city looks forward to another major trail opening in 2017.

That's when the Lift Bridge closes to vehicle traffic and a new loop trail will cross that bridge and the new bridge at Oak Park Heights.

The open house will be held June 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at City Hall. City officials will present a draft of the master plan with a question and comment period to follow.

To view the plan, visit www.ci.stillwater.mn.us/trailplanupdate. To comment, visit www.ci.stillwater.mn.us/trailplansurvey.

Kevin Giles

Dakota County

Residents can learn about roundabout, trail plans

West St. Paul residents who are interested in a roundabout planned for the intersection of Oakdale and Wentworth avenues can learn about the project and give feedback at a June 3 meeting.

City and Dakota County staff will be available to answer questions from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in West St. Paul's City Hall, 1616 Humboldt Av. Planners are in the final design stage of the single-lane roundabout. Construction is not scheduled to start until 2017.

The county will hold another informational meeting June 4 on a trail project near the Minnesota Zoo.

Community members will be able to check out updated plans and drawings of a portion of the North Creek Regional Greenway. The full greenway will extend from Eagan to Farmington. The segment of the trail up for public review includes a pedestrian bridge over McAndrews Road and amenities such as viewing platforms, according to county documents.

The June 4 open house is planned for 5 to 7 p.m. in the Dakota County Western Service Center at 14955 Galaxie Av. in Apple Valley.

To view the greenway's master plan, visit http://tinyurl.com/kzzyouv.

JESSIE VAN BERKEL

Minneapolis

Police Department awards officers and staff

Minneapolis police aren't required to carry chest seals, an emergency dressing for trauma wounds, but officer Corey Schmidt happened to have one last fall when he was dispatched to a stabbing.

On Oct. 11, Schmidt and another officer responded to a call and found a 19-year-old man in a blood-soaked shirt, who fell to the ground while holding his torso. After Schmidt noticed the man had a 2-inch chest wound, he quickly applied first aid and a chest seal on the injury. After the man was transported to the hospital, police were informed that without Schmidt's actions, the injuries could have been fatal.

Schmidt was among several officers and staff to be recognized with awards from the Minneapolis Police Department on Tuesday night during its annual ceremony.

Schmidt was given a Life Saving Award.

Nicole Norfleet

Eden Prairie

Heritage preservation awards program begins

The city of Eden Prairie is accepting nominations until June 30 for its first-ever heritage preservation award.

The award will honor a resident, family or business for contributions to the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and use of the city's heritage resources.

It's part of the celebration of National Historic Preservation Month (in May). The city's Heritage Preservation Commission will select recipients in July, with an award presentation Aug. 18.

To fill out a nomination, go to surveymonkey.com/r/LTYH7WQ.

Staff report