Fort Snelling State Park is one of nine sites around the state where opportunities for winter fat-bike riding have been expanded. Fat bikes are bicycles with large, low-pressure tires designed for travel on snow or sandy soil.

The park now has 6 miles of multiuse trails packed for nonmotorized recreation, including fat biking. The park is located on Post Road off State Hwy. 5, just west of the main terminal exit for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Minnesota state parks and trails now have 78 miles suitable for winter fat-bike riding, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Other sites in the metro area include:

• Luce Line State Trail (Wayzata), with 7 miles of multiuse trails groomed for nonmotorized recreation.

• Gateway State Trail (St. Paul). The trail from Cayuga Street to Jamaica Avenue (11.9 miles) is open to winter biking, but east from Jamaica is groomed for cross-country skiing only.

The DNR advises people riding a fat bike to avoid snowmobile and cross-country ski trails, because almost all of those trails are not open to other uses during the winter. Skier and snowmobiler user fees pay for grooming and maintenance of these trails.

For more information on fat biking and where to ride in Minnesota, go to www.mndnr.gov/fatbike or contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us or 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Burnsville

Free skating event coming to ice center

January is National Skating Month, and on Sunday, Jan. 4, a free skating event will be held at the Burnsville Ice Center, 251 Civic Center Pkwy. It will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the Minnesota Valley Figure Skating Club and the Burnsville Ice Center Learn to Skate Program.

In addition to free admission and skate rental, the event will include free lessons for new skaters. Lesson space is limited, and lessons will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

At 2 p.m., registration will begin for Learn to Skate winter lessons. Group and private lessons are available for ages 3 to adult. They're offered in general skating, figure skating and hockey skating. Registration can be done in person at the Ice Center, or online at www.burnsville.org/LTS

For further information, call 952-895-4657.

Dakota County Library

Activities abound for young people

The Dakota County Library system has a wide range of activities for young people coming up this week. Here's a sampling:

• Book Bingo, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Av., Apple Valley. Kids ages 6-12 will play bingo for a chance to win gently-used books. Space is limited.

• Movies for Kids, 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Wentworth Library, 199 Wentworth Av. E., W. St. Paul. Youngsters ages 2-6 will have a chance to watch Mo Willems books in movie format.

• Character Development for Performance. 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wescott Library, 1340 Wescott Road, Eagan. Ages 10-16 will draw upon their physical and vocal tools as they create a short scene to perform. Registration is required for this program, which is presented by Sossy Mechanics. Go to http://tinyurl.com/l4ynxyk

• Scrabble Tournament. 2 p.m. Tuesday, Heritage Library, 20085 Heritage Dr., Lakeville. For ages 8 and up. Compete in teams of up to four or come as an individual and be matched with others.

• New Year's Eve "countdown" parties. Wednesday, 11:15 a.m. at Galaxie (Apple Valley) and Burnhaven (1101 W. County Road 42, Burnsville) and 11:30 a.m. at South St. Paul (106 3rd Av. N.). For kids ages 0-6; parties culminate with a glittery ball dropping down.

• Movie: "Muppets Most Wanted." 2 p.m. Wednesday, Wescott Library (Eagan). For ages 5-10.

Staff reports