A handful of area governments are coming together to voice their support for an additional $500,000 in state bonding funds for the extension of the Blazing Star Trail.

The Albert Lea City Council on Monday added their backing for the funding, which, if awarded, would complete the extension of the trail from Myre-Big Island State Park to Hayward.

The Blazing Star Joint Powers Board has submitted a preliminary application requesting the funding, and the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners last week voted its support. The partnership also includes the cities of Austin and Hayward, as well as Mower County.

Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said he thinks the $500,000 would be the final funding needed to complete the $5 million trail extension, including a bridge over Albert Lea Lake.

The Blazing Star Trail presently is a 6.4-mile, paved state trail from Frank Hall Park in Albert Lea to a point on the northeast side of Myre-Big Island State Park, about 3⁄4 mile from the western shore of Albert Lea Lake’s northern bay. The trail was built in 2003 after five years of land negotiations.

The extension would develop an additional 2.9 miles of trail to Hayward, according to the city resolution. It could be used for various forms of recreation, including hiking, running, biking and inline skating.