The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission was on hand for the grand opening celebration of the expanded city campground in Big Falls. System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski was joined by former District 2 GMRPTC Commissioner Rita Albrecht at the event, which drew visitors from across north central Minnesota to celebrate improvements to the regional park along the Big Fork River.

The project saw the completion of riverside property acquisition, additional and renovated campsites, infrastructure, a new bath/shower facility and visitor center improvements. Parks and Trails Legacy Fund investments in the project through the GMRPTC totaled $1,278,030.

Learn more at this local TV news report: External Lakeland PTV Link HERE

Want to see more of the fun side of the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission? Follow our Instagram page! We look for fun and interesting sights that represent Greater Minnesota while traveling across our state. Here's our latest video from Central Minnesota: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQgfUAKndFx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

For additional information, contact System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski at coordinator@gmrptcommission.org or Executive Director Renee Mattson at renee.mattson@gmrptcommission.org.

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(May 13, 2021 – DULUTH, Minn.) – An updated strategic plan for guiding future development of Greater Minnesota’s regional parks and trails, including ensuring those areas are inviting and accessible to underserved communities, is now available to the public from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC).
 
Established in 2013, the Commission identifies regionally significant parks and trails in Minnesota’s 80 counties outside the seven-county metropolitan area and provides grant recommendations to the State Legislature. Funding comes from the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund, part of the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment approved by state voters in 2008.
 
“Many people have worked hard to build a system of regional parks and trails that all Minnesotans can be proud of,” said GMRPTC Board Chair Thomas Ryan, adding that to date the organization has designated 64 parks and trails as regionally significant. “This updated strategic plan ensures we have consistent, detailed criteria for creating a seamless outdoor recreation system that integrates with those of our partners at the Department of Natural Resources and Metropolitan Council Regional Parks.”
 
This 86-page plan, filled with photos, maps and graphs, is designed to help local parks and trails agencies around Greater Minnesota develop effective proposals for regional designation and funding. As more agencies prepare their initial or updated Master Plans, they can look to this strategic plan for clearer standards and tools that will help tell their regional story. The plan includes criteria for making parks and trails inviting and accessible to underserved communities and people with mobility or other challenges, identifies new ways of monitoring and measuring success, and more.

The entire strategic plan may be found at www.gmrptcommission.org. Citizens may also ask to have a printed version mailed to them by contacting GMRPTC Executive Director Renee Mattson at renee.mattson@gmrptcommission.org.
 
“Achieving designation requires an applicant to work through a detailed process that ensures each park or trail is of the quality Minnesotans and visitors expect when enjoying regionally significant facilities. The strategic plan provides guidance to help applicants think broadly and boldly about not only what the facility is now, but what it could be,” said Mattson.
 
She added that the GMRPTC will hold a series of online workshops in June to help agencies understand the new plan’s contents. Information about workshop times and dates is at https://www.gmrptcommission.org/2021-district-workshops.html.
 
Since its inception, the GMRPTC has awarded more than $52 million in grants to regional parks and trails across Greater Minnesota. Combined with $20 million in community investments, grants are used to fund infrastructure improvements, land acquisitions, new facilities, trail rehabilitation and more.

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission seeks interested and qualified firms to conduct a user count and visitor intercept survey on three regionally designated mountain bike trail systems during the summer of 2021. The systems to be studied include the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area in Detroit Lakes, the Duluth Traverse, and the Cook County Mountain Bike System in Grand Marais.

The complete RFP and proposed intercept survey are attached. Please contact Executive Director Renee Mattson with any questions at renee.mattson@gmrptcommission.org.

(March 23, 2021 – DULUTH, Minn.) More than $10 million in grants are available to fund infrastructure and other enhancements for Greater Minnesota’s regional parks and trails, including $750,000 to make them more inviting and accessible to underserved communities and people with mobility or other challenges. 
 
Online applications are being accepted from April 1 to July 30 by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC), which was established in 2013 to provide recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature for grants to parks and trails of regional significance outside the seven-county metropolitan area.
 
“COVID-19 precautions during the past year resulted in a tremendous increase in visitors to Greater Minnesota’s designated regional parks and trails, many of them being first-time users,” said GMRPTC Executive Director Renee Mattson. “This round of grants is intended to continue engaging those users, with $750,000 set aside to further attract and accommodate citizens in underserved communities. People are more likely to take part in outdoor recreation if they feel welcome and have good experiences, and that’s the environment these funds are intended to enhance.”
 
Funding is provided by tax dollars from the state’s Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment of 2008. The available grant total for this year, which will be awarded for Fiscal Year 2023, is $10,128,850.
 
Since 2014 the GMRPTC has awarded more than $52 million in grants to over 50 regional parks and trails across Greater Minnesota, which completed an application process to be designated as regionally significant. Combined with $20 million in community matches, grants are used to fund infrastructure improvements, land acquisitions, new facilities, trail rehabilitation and more.
 
“Our state’s beautiful parks and trails are a treasure for people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Mattson. “The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission is pleased to play a role in helping make these areas available to everyone.”
 
The grant application form, as well as information about the GMRPTC as a whole, may be found at www.gmrptcommission.org.

# # #
 
Greater Minnesota’s designated regional parks and trails, listed alphabetically, follow. (N) = Natural Resource-Based Park Classification; (S) = Special Recreation Feature Park Classification; (T) = Regional Trail Classification.

Aitkin County Northwoods ATV Trail (T)
Austin Jay C. Hormel Nature Center (N)
​Beltrami County Northland Regional Sports Park (S)
Big Falls Campground and Horse Camp (S)
Cannon Valley Trail (T)
 
Chisago County Sunrise Prairie Trail (T)
Chisago County Swedish Immigrant Trail (T)
Cohasset Tioga Recreation Area (N)
Cook County Mountain Bike Trail System (S)
Crow Wing County Milford Mine Memorial Park (S)
 
Detroit Lakes Detroit Mountain (S)
Douglas County Lake Brophy Park (N)
Douglas County Kensington Park (N)
Duluth Hartley Park (N)
​Duluth Spirit Mountain Recreation Area (S)

Duluth Traverse (S)
Elk River Woodland Trails Park (N)
Fergus Falls Glacial Edge Trail (T)
Goodhue County Byllesby Park (S)
Granite Falls Memorial Park (N)

Hermantown/Proctor Munger Trail Spur (T)
Isanti County Irving & John Anderson Park (N)
Lac qui Parle County Park (N)
Lake County Mountain Bike Trails (T)
Lake Shore Gull Lake Trail (T)

Lake Vermilion Trail (T)
Le Sueur County Lake Washington Park (N)
Lincoln County Hole In the Mountain Park (N)
Luverne Loop & Blue Mounds Trail (T)
Lyon County Garvin Park (N)

Lyon County Twin Lakes Park (N)
McLeod County Dakota Rail Trail (T)
Mesabi Trail (T)
Mille Lacs County Plains to Port Trail (T)
Moorhead MB Johnson Park (N)

Moorhead River Corridor Trail (T)
​Morrison County Belle Prairie Park (N)
​Morrison County Soo Line Trail (T)
Olmsted County Chester Woods Park (N)
Olmsted County Oxbow Park/Zollman Zoo (S)

Otter Tail County Perham to Pelican Rapids Trail (T)
Red Lake River Corridor (T)
Red Wing He Mni Can-Barn Bluff Park (S)
Redwood County Plum Creek Park (N)
Redwood Falls Ramsey Park (N)
 
Rochester Cascade Lake Park (N)
Rochester Gamehaven Park (N)
Rochester Quarry Hill Park (N)
Sandstone Robinson Park (S)
St. Cloud Beaver Island Trail (T)

Stearns County Kraemer Lake Park (N)
​Stearns County/Benton County Great River Park Complex (N) 
Stearns County Lake Wobegon Trail (T)
Stearns County Rockville Park (N)
Stearns County Quarry Park (N)

Stearns County Warner Lake Park (N)
Willmar Robbins Island Park (N)
Winona Bluffs Traverse (S)
Wright County Bertram Park (N)
Wright County Collinwood Park (N)
​
Wright County Crow River Trail (T)
Wright County Great River Trail (T)
Wright County Robert Ney Park (N)
Wright County Stanley Eddy Park Reserve (N)
 
For additional information, contact Renee Mattson, Executive Director of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, at 218-310-2627 or renee.mattson@gmrptcommission.org.  

For additional information: Renee Mattson, Executive Director of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, at 218-310-2627 or Renee.Mattson@gmrptcommission.org.
 
‘Mask Out, Minnesota’ campaign launches today
to encourage wintertime use of state’s parks and trails
 
DULUTH, Minn. / Jan. 28, 2021 – State recreation leaders always encourage people to follow the life-saving guidance of the “Mask Up, Minnesota” efforts, and now they’re inviting residents to take masks one crunchy step further.
 
“Mask Out, Minnesota,” a public awareness campaign to encourage people to visit the state’s many parks and trails during these chilly winter months, was launched today by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC).
 
“There’s no better way to socially distance, get fresh air and some much-needed exercise than to visit a nearby park or trail, even when it’s cold out,” said GMRPTC Executive Director Renee Mattson. “Just put on your favorite winter facemasks – along with parkas, boots, choppers and long underwear – and Mask Out, Minnesota, to enjoy the beauty of our winter!”
 
She added that most Minnesotans are just a few minutes away from a scenic park or trail, directions to which can be found at www.mn.gov/greatoutdoors.
 
“After so many months of stay-at-home, these treasures give families a safe and fun way to get away from home for a few hours,” she said.
 
While “Mask Out, Minnesota” borrows its name from “Mask Up, Minnesota,” Mattson said people should not forget the importance of the latter message.
 
“Our tongue-in-cheek, Mask Out message might actually be closer to tongue-on-a-frozen-pole, since it’s intended to playfully remind people of wintertime in Minnesota,” she said. “But Mask Up remains a crucial message for everyone to follow during these ongoing coronavirus concerns.”
 
Established in 2013, the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission conducts system planning and designates regionally significant parks and trails in the 80-counties outside the seven-county metropolitan area. Grant recommendations to the Legislature are made through the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund, one of the four funds resulting from the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment. These funds may only be spent to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance. Additional information is at www.gmrptcommission.org.

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission has announced grant recommendations for the FY2022 funding cycle. 

Of the 64 regionally designated parks and trails in the Greater Minnesota system, the Commission received 14 applications and selected 11 projects totaling $7,755,429 to recommend for legislative approval. 

See the full press release and recommendation list below.

Learn more about how the Commission is working with other cities and counties in all six Greater Minnesota districts to fulfill the 25-year Legacy Plan in the attached annual Policy and Planning report to the Legislature.

By Joe Czapiewski, AICP
System Plan Coordinator
Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission
Republished from the April-June 2020 issue of Planning Minnesota

What would you do if you had to create a new state agency from scratch?

That’s essentially what the 13 governor-appointed members of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) set out to do in October 2013. Armed with enabling legislation, the possibility of distributing a portion of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment funding, and a brand-new strategic plan, the volunteer Commission got to work improving outdoor recreation across Greater Minnesota.

Notice I said the “possibility” of distributing Legacy Amendment funding. While the sales tax funding was available quickly, the brand-new Commission wasn’t ready to manage it. The Commission is one leg of a three-legged stool also consisting of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Metropolitan Council’s Regional Parks and Natural Resources Department.

Each agency is responsible for managing a portion of the Legacy Amendment’s sales tax revenue dedicated to parks and trails. As a new entity, the Commission had to prove not only the viability of its concept, but the capacity of the organization as well. Until then, distribution and management of its portion of funding was in the hands of the DNR. Let’s take a look at how the Commission tackled this challenge.

Who, How and Why
The Commission’s role is to “undertake system planning and provide recommendations to the legislature for grants funded by the parks and trails fund to counties and cities outside of the seven-county metropolitan area for parks and trails of regional significance (Mn Statute 85.536).” There’s a lot packed in there, so let’s break down three critical parts.

The first part is “who”. The GMRPTC is targeted toward Greater Minnesota’s public (city and county) parks and trails of regional significance. What does that mean? Well, the Commission’s Strategic Plan contains criteria for facilities that rise to the level of designation as a part of the regional system. If you meet the criteria, you’re in!

How do you know if you meet the criteria? The Strategic Plan is a policy plan guiding the development of the overall regional system. It lays out the application process, the criteria, and the requirements for submitting a qualified Unit Master Plan. The Commission has never been shy about holding a high standard for the facilities that want to be a part of the system. Achieving designation is the most significant part of the overall process, receiving the most scrutiny.

Once you are designated a part of the system, applying for funding is fairly straightforward. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t standards, criteria, and competition, but the applicant pool is fairly small and your chances of success at this point are much better than many other statewide programs. Funding applications are also relatively simple, compared to Master Plan creation and evaluation. In the end, receiving funding is the carrot to encourage good planning!

Planning is Key
System planning from scratch was the challenge, and the opportunity, for the Commission. To build a system worthy of funding, we needed to recruit cities and counties with park and trail concepts that were worthy of the title “regionally significant” and receiving state funds. There were also no funds to directly support Unit Master Plan development by cities and counties, which fostered creativity in how the Commission supported applicants.

It would have been easy to designate a bunch of low hanging fruit, in the form of several well-known and developed parks and trails, and call it good. Instead, the Commission knew it could leverage its process and funds to raise the bar for park and trail planning across Greater Minnesota. The key to doing that was to link system designation to creation of a “qualified” Master Plan. Planning requirements encourage professional standards, linkage between facility concepts and public demand, and a certain level of planning for construction costs, maintenance, and operations. It also allowed the Commission to evaluate unbuilt concepts, not just existing facilities that had already been successful acquiring resources.

Outside of a few major cities and counties in Greater Minnesota, most local jurisdictions had never done this kind of park planning work. Few of them had dedicated recreation staff, funding for planning, or experience. How could we ensure equity and cost effectiveness across the state while quickly building a quality system?

The answer was to use technology and a local presence (built relatively cheaply) to educate and support all potential applicants. Here are a few of the tools we used:

Working with People

• The Commission created six districts, initially convening a District Planning Committee (DPC) made up of interested locals in each. This helped the Commission to understand the unique landscape and needs of each region of the state. The DPC’s also helped to spread the word about what the Commission was trying to accomplish. As the system matures, the Commission continues to look for ways to improve public engagement at the state, regional and local levels.

 

• A multi-step designation process helps guide locals to better decision making. By requiring only a simplified application as a first step, a city or county would better understand its strengths and weaknesses prior to completing a full Master Plan. If they are not a match for the program, they can adjust their vision and try again or pursue other funding opportunities. It also saves them the significant expense of creating a Unit Master Plan if regional designation was not a fit.

 

• Consistent and professional evaluation for all applications is provided by a single statewide Evaluation Team (ETeam), mostly made up of experienced outdoor recreation professionals. This ensures that the same high standards are applied equally statewide while allowing for regional differences and flexibility in the criteria so a variety of facility designs and options can meet the needs identified by local public engagement.

 

• Continuing education is provided by annual District-level workshops, or at least was until pandemic protocols were put in place. The Commission also maintains a robust and growing toolbox for applicants, including video and written tutorials, content guides, and other tools. These steps, combined with personal coaching by Commission staff (Executive Director and System Plan Coordinator), are critical for helping applicants put their best foot forward and maximize their chances of success.

Leveraging Technology

• The Commission’s website hosts a robust Data Management System (DMS). It’s where applicants start their online Designation Application, the first step in the process. If the application ranks highly, they qualify to move on to the Master Plan step without having to re-enter any of that information into the Master Plan – the system takes care of that action.

 

• Master Plans are also created entirely in the DMS. This was done for a couple of reasons. A key one is to help guide emerging applicants to complete all of the required components of the plan at a fairly professional standard. For instance, applicants complete a regional context analysis using narrative and attaching appropriate maps and other supportive documents in a designated section of the plan. If it isn’t completed to specification, it can be sent back to the applicant for improvements for easy updates.

 

• Using an online Master Plan portal, which we believe is the first of its kind, also allows for strong team collaboration. The planning lead organizer can sit down with a mixed committee of volunteers, staff and consultants and assign various components to those who can do them best (and most cost-effectively). For instance, a volunteer group can lead public engagement and then enter their results in that section, while a consultant Landscape Architect puts together the final design and components in another section. The County Engineer can then enter cost estimates and phasing for the entire concept. Finally, there is an export tool that prints out the entire plan in a publishable format, negating the need and cost of a graphic designer.

 
We also like to point out that the Master Plan portal in the DMS is free and open for everyone at www.gmrptcommission.org/applications.html. Even if you don’t plan to apply for designation, feel free to ask your planner to complete the Master Plan in the portal. It can help ensure a higher standard of development and reduce production expenses.
 

• The Funding Application is also completed online once a facility is regionally designated. It has all of the traditional questions, requirements, and design attachments you’d expect. This app also lets the applicant tie specific parts of the application to the relevant component of the online Master Plan, allowing for an enriched story about how this particular project supports the overall concept. It also flows seamlessly with the DNR funding application process – the DNR manages the actual funding contracts on behalf of the Commission, so this was an important step.

 

• Evaluations are also completed right in the DMS. Having it available online allows the ETeam, the District Planning Committees or other local reviewers, and the Commission to conduct their relevant part of the process, whether scoring, commenting, or designating, on their own time. Their comments can then be compiled and provided to the applicant for feedback.

 
Success to Date
While this system isn’t perfect, the Commission has found success in achieving its goals for park and trail planning. There are currently 62 facilities in the regional system, built from hundreds of applicants in all corners of the state. The Strategic Plan continues to evolve – a new version will be released this summer that streamlines criteria, evolves the Commission’s public engagement process and further raises the bar for Unit Master Plans. We have learned that more work is needed in the areas of park programming, marketing, and long-term maintenance and operations planning, so updated standards and education will reflect that.

The Commission also achieved its goal of managing its own funding selection process as of 2015. That’s only two years from building a system from scratch to overseeing the investment of approximately $9,000,000 per year. We have been fortunate to have great partners at the DNR and Metropolitan Council Parks Department who support the Commission’s work and take our place at the table with them seriously. Together, we are building a fantastic system of parks and trails for all Minnesotans and visitors to enjoy!
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To learn more about our application, system, and organization, visit the Commission’s website at www.gmrptcommission.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@gmrptc) and Instagram (@greaterminnesota) for news updates and explorations of the great parks and trails across Greater Minnesota!

On Wednesday Governor Walz announced new guidance for the reopening and use of campgrounds in Minnesota, starting June 1. Find them on the DNR's website HERE.

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission worked with many agencies around the state including DNR, National Forest Service, Metro Parks, Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails, and more to help create these campground guidelines. They are intended to help you determine the minimum standards that you should be implementing while you work to open your campgrounds but allow for room to do more if you have the proper staffing and ability to maintain best practices. 

We hope everyone is doing well and making safe use of Minnesota's great outdoor spaces this summer!

​Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan made five appointments to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission effective May 6, 2020 through January 1, 2024.
 
Reappointments:
District 1 - Timothy Engrav from Britt
District 3 – Peg Furshong from Sacred Heart
 
New Appointments:
District 2 – Matthew Hill from Breezy Point
District 5 – Ted Suss from Lucan
At-Large – Jennifer Foley from St. Cloud
 
The GMRPTC is comprised of 13 Governor appointed members who represent the 80-counties  outside the seven-county metropolitan area.  There are two representatives for each of six districts and one at-large member.
 
The Commission, through a comprehensive, multi-step process, designates regionally significant parks and trails, enabling those facilities to apply for funding through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.  Currently there are 62 designated parks and trails in Greater Minnesota.
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For more information about the Commission visit www.gmrptcommission.org.