Washington County has already earned an award for the lighted cross-country skiing trails at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve.

On Jan. 11, the county board will celebrate the official opening of the trails and new Nordic Center.

“Cross country skiing trails have (received) great comments from the public,” County Commissioner Gary Kriesel said when the board approved the project. “They’re very popular out there.”

The $1.3 million project features a new center that serves as the trailhead for the ski trails, along which the county in the fall of 2011 installed more than 200 LED lights on poles four to five feet tall. The fixtures are aimed at the ground to “minimize light escaping into the night sky,” according to a release from Washington County.

The newly lighted ski area includes several interconnected loop trails at the Lake Elmo Park Reserve, located at the intersection of County Road 19 and County Road 10 in Lake Elmo, one mile north of Interstate 94.

Project funding came from a Park and Trail Fund grant, which is part of the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment, and Metropolitan Council grants. No county property tax levy funds were used, according to the release.

The upcoming celebration, set for 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, will be held at the Nordic Center. The park entrance fee will be a waived during the event.