2023 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
We are please to announce our accomplishments for 2023. The Greater Minnesota system continues to grow and there are now a total of 77 regionally designated parks, trails, and special feature facilities across our eighty counties.
The Mountain Bike Trail Development - Guidelines for Successfully Managing the Process manual was printed and further distributed. The collaboration with IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) and Rock Solid Trail Contracting was a great partnership. The response to the guidelines have been positive. Additional Appendices are planned to cover areas outside of the initial project scope.
We have completed a user survey report using new location based technology. This technology has given us unprecedented detail regarding when and where people trails using aggregated and anonymized data to estimate and evaluate visitation. The project was started in June of 2020 with that Parks and Trails Legacy Partners. This was a two year project to count visitors to all three systems parks and trails (MN Department of Natural Resources parks and trails, the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails, and the Twin Cities Metro parks and trails).
The Commission was able to fund, in whole or in part, 14 projects for a total of $16,354,035.00! Additionally, $33,045 was placed in a Connecting People with the Outdoors Small Grant Fund that will be used to fund programming, accessibility, and other CPO initiatives that may be modeled as prototype projects in other communities. The total amount for the 2024 fiscal year is $16,354,035.00. Review the full 2023 Policy and Planning Report.
In addition to helping create and maintain recreation resources, Parks and Trails Legacy grants contribute to the state’s economy through job creation and visitor spending. It is also important to recognize the public health value outdoor recreation brings to a community.
Review the funding applications in the following list by clicking on the project name. Additional information be found by contacting the System Plan Coordinator – [email protected].
Applicant Award District
Sandstone Robinson Quarry Park $2,257,200 1
Hubbard County Deep Lake Park $1,042,300 2
Red Lake River Corridor - East Grand Forks $888,177 2
Warroad Point Park $2,760,333 2
Gull Lake Trail - Fairview Township and Nisswa $1,456,951 2
Lac qui Parle County Park $595,380 3
Morrison County Belle Prairie Park $924,516 4
Isanti County Irving and John Anderson County Park $255,400 4
Isanti County Springvale Park $81,000 4
Sherburne County Two Inlets at Bdé Heḣáka - Omashkooz
Zaaga’igaans Regional Park $1,985,875 4
Stearns County Rockville Park $210,000 4
Lyon County Garvin Park $926,809 5
Greater Mankato River Valley Trail System $1,216,456 5
Cannon Valley Trail $1,720,593 6
Connecting People With the Outdoors Small Grants Fund $33,045 All
Total $16,354,035
The Mountain Bike Trail Development - Guidelines for Successfully Managing the Process manual was printed and further distributed. The collaboration with IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) and Rock Solid Trail Contracting was a great partnership. The response to the guidelines have been positive. Additional Appendices are planned to cover areas outside of the initial project scope.
We have completed a user survey report using new location based technology. This technology has given us unprecedented detail regarding when and where people trails using aggregated and anonymized data to estimate and evaluate visitation. The project was started in June of 2020 with that Parks and Trails Legacy Partners. This was a two year project to count visitors to all three systems parks and trails (MN Department of Natural Resources parks and trails, the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails, and the Twin Cities Metro parks and trails).
The Commission was able to fund, in whole or in part, 14 projects for a total of $16,354,035.00! Additionally, $33,045 was placed in a Connecting People with the Outdoors Small Grant Fund that will be used to fund programming, accessibility, and other CPO initiatives that may be modeled as prototype projects in other communities. The total amount for the 2024 fiscal year is $16,354,035.00. Review the full 2023 Policy and Planning Report.
In addition to helping create and maintain recreation resources, Parks and Trails Legacy grants contribute to the state’s economy through job creation and visitor spending. It is also important to recognize the public health value outdoor recreation brings to a community.
Review the funding applications in the following list by clicking on the project name. Additional information be found by contacting the System Plan Coordinator – [email protected].
Applicant Award District
Sandstone Robinson Quarry Park $2,257,200 1
Hubbard County Deep Lake Park $1,042,300 2
Red Lake River Corridor - East Grand Forks $888,177 2
Warroad Point Park $2,760,333 2
Gull Lake Trail - Fairview Township and Nisswa $1,456,951 2
Lac qui Parle County Park $595,380 3
Morrison County Belle Prairie Park $924,516 4
Isanti County Irving and John Anderson County Park $255,400 4
Isanti County Springvale Park $81,000 4
Sherburne County Two Inlets at Bdé Heḣáka - Omashkooz
Zaaga’igaans Regional Park $1,985,875 4
Stearns County Rockville Park $210,000 4
Lyon County Garvin Park $926,809 5
Greater Mankato River Valley Trail System $1,216,456 5
Cannon Valley Trail $1,720,593 6
Connecting People With the Outdoors Small Grants Fund $33,045 All
Total $16,354,035
