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This month we review the Legacy funding opportunities currently available through the Commission, invite you to the joint GMRPTC/GMPT summer meeting, visit our newest regionally designated facility, and check out both a newly completed construction project and an upcoming arts project!  Joint GMPRTC/GMPT Summer Meeting Invite! Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails (GMPT) and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks & Trails Commission (GMRPTC) invites you to our joint Summer Meeting on Tuesday, July 29! This annual event will be held at the Lake Washington Regional Park & Campground in Kasota (47102 Washington Park Road, Kasota, MN 56050) with events beginning at 10:00 a.m. We've got a great agenda lined up! GMPT lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel will provide a recap of the ups and downs of this past legislative session, highlighting the progress made in parks and trails policy and programs. The event agenda will also include presentations from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Bison Conservation, and a discussion on recreational trends with Minnesota State University. Thought that was enough excitement? Not even close! As is tradition, we will cap off the day with an immersive tour of the event's host facility, Lake Washington Regional Park. This year's Summer Meeting is sure to be a blast, so sign up today! Lunch will be provided for those attending in person, so we ask that you please register in advance via the link below. The $30 fee includes coffee and lunch. - Courtesy of Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails  New Pavilion and Kayak/Canoe Launch Opens at Big Falls Campground! Big Falls Builds Big Dreams, Legacy Dollars at Work: The Riverside Pavilion and Kayak/Canoe Launch Bring New Amenities to Serve Residents and Campers In the heart of northern Minnesota, nestled along the scenic Big Fork River, the tiny town of Big Falls (population 175) has proven that big things really can come in small packages. This spring, the city unveiled a stunning new riverside pavilion and kayak/canoe launch at their municipal campground—ambitious additions that are already transforming the local park experience for residents and visitors alike. For a small community, taking on such a large-scale improvement project was no small feat. In true Minnesotan spirit, the people of Big Falls came together, combining vision, determination, and resourcefulness to bring the project to life. The new open-air pavilion serves as a central gathering place for campers and community events. With a design that fits the surroundings, picnic seating, and lighting, it's already hosted local get-togethers and promises to be a hub for future festivities. Steps away, the kayak and canoe launch provides safe, easy access to the Big Fork River—a natural draw for paddlers seeking quiet adventure and breathtaking views. The campground itself has benefited from a previous Legacy grant, one that added new campsites and a beautiful new shower/restroom building. The Clean Water, Land and Legacy grants from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission have helped communities across the 80-counties of Greater Minnesota achieve improvements that would not have been possible without this assistance. Rick Anderson, Chair of the GMRPTC stated “The steps Big Falls has taken to improve the campground have shown that an investment in a community resource will provide an economic benefit to the city for years to come." Big Falls is a small community, achieving big dreams and big results.  MN Parks Artists-in-Residence Program Comes to Wright and Sherburne Counties The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, alongside Legacy partners MNDNR and Metro Regional Parks, has established the Minnesota Parks Artists-in-Residence (MNPAiR) program for 2025. In this article, we highlight the upcoming work of one of our Greater Minnesota-based artists, Lindsay Buck. Ms. Buck will be hosting two public events in District 4 next month to launch heart+land. heart+land is a new interpretive feature that spans two parks, pairing trail signage with a mobile phone app to showcase the historical, cultural, and environmental connections of our central Minnesota landscape. Event Details:
heart+land is a product of the 2024-2025 Minnesota Parks Artist-in-Residence Program (MNPAiR), an initiative of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission in partnership with Sherburne and Wright County Parks and Recreation Departments, with funding from the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment. Read more about the MnPAiR program here: https://forecastpublicart.org/mn-parks-artist-residency/  Funding Application Availability Reminder! The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) reminds all of its regionally designated parks and trails that they are eligible at this time for any of the following Legacy-funded programs: Legacy Development and Acquisition Grants - This is the primary Legacy Amendement-funded grant opportunity administered by the GMRPTC. Examples include acquisition or major infrastructure development. Applications close at the end of July. Connect People and the Outdoors (CPO) Grants - This is another major funding category for Legacy Amendment grants. Examples include non-infrastructure projects such as new, innovative outdoor recreation programs, recreation equipment, or projects that improve access to under-served communities. Applications close at the end of July. Environmental/Archeological Grants - This program is earmarked for environmental/archeological review projects, prior to the application and funding for Legacy Development and Acquisition grants. Examples include EAW or Phase I EIS projects, archeological studies, or other pre-project development. This is a rolling application deadline as long as funding is available. Access and Inclusion Grants - This program is designed to improve accessibility and inclusivity for the widest ranges of users of all abilities and ages. A grant to improve access helps remove the physical barriers to a facility through universal access design and correcting barriers in existing buildings. This is a rolling application deadline as long as funding is available. All grant programs are available for qualified applicants who must complete the funding application requirements in the GMRPTC online portal. Find out more in our application toolbox at https://www.gmrptcommission.org/application-toolbox.html. If you have any questions, please contact System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski at [email protected] or 218-556-3651.  Crow Wing County's Northland Arboretum Achieves Regional Designation! The GMRPTC is excited to announce the designation of the Crow Wing County Northland Arboretum, located on the border between Brainerd and Baxter, as the 84th member of the regional system! The Northland Arboretum is a 413-acre ecological and recreational hub in Central Minnesota, uniquely transforming a former landfill into a mosaic of trails, prairies, wetlands, and savannas. It connects directly to the Paul Bunyan State Trail and features the region's largest bike skills park, adaptive cycling trails, gardens, a nature playscape, and year-round education. As a biodiversity corridor and inclusive recreation site, the Arb serves all ages and abilities in a truly regional capacity.         The Commission "is created to undertake system planning and provide recommendations to the legislature for grants funded by the parks and trails fund to counties, cities and Tribal governments outside of the seven-county metropolitan area for parks and trails of regional significance"
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Questions? Contact [email protected]
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