The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, together with its Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee partners the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Metropolitan Council, have released a new report marking the 10-year anniversary of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.

The Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee (PTLAC) embarked on a series of regional public events to celebrate, educate, and listen as citizens shared their perspectives on, and aspirations for, Minnesota's comprehensive system of state and regional parks and trails.

By hosting nine regional events across the state, the PTLAC was able to celebrate the impact of Legacy funding with over 12,500 Minnesotans. In keeping with the spirit of Minnesota parks and trails, participants enjoyed activities that showcased the time of year and what made each site unique.

The report shares highlights of the celebrations across the state, summarizing the extensive efforts to share information about the impact of Legacy funding on the state's regional parks and trails system, and explains how what was learned will impact priorities and decisions for the next 15 years of Legacy funding.

Read the report below.

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission has announced grant recommendations for the FY2020 funding cycle. 

Of the 59 regionally designated parks and trails in the Greater Minnesota system, the Commission received 21 applications and selected 11 projects totaling $8,639,258 to recommend for legislative approval.

See the full press release and recommendation list below.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced grant funding opportunities for park and trail projects across Minnesota. Applications are now being accepted for the following grant programs: outdoor recreation, natural and scenic area, regional trail, local trail connections and federal recreational trails.

These grants help local governments throughout the state create partnerships with the DNR to fund projects ranging from local parks, regional trails to trail connections. Information about each of the grants can be found at this link provided by our friends at the League of Minnesota Cities.

Current Grant Opportunities

That’s right, the partners in the Legacy Amendment Parks and Trails fund; Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, Metropolitan Council and DNR will be sharing space in the DNR building at the State Fair and continuing our mission to:
Celebrate * Education * Listen

During this 10th year of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment we partnered to host a series of eight celebrations in communities across the State.  Now we promote our message to the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the DNR building during the 12-days that Minnesotans celebrate the end of summer and the coming fall harvest.
 
We’ll be in the theatre of the DNR building for 2018 and 2019.  Please come visit and say hello when you’re at the fair.  The exhibit design is such that we can take elements of the display on the road to various communities for the next year, let us know if there is an event that might be appropriate in your community. 
 
We’ll see you at the Fair!

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and  Trails Commission (GMRPTC) is seeking applications for alternative member(s) of the Evaluation Team (ETeam).  The ETeam is comprised of five park and trail or natural resource management professionals with an extensive understanding of Greater Minnesota and the unique issues and challenges faced in communities/counties outside the metro area.
Members conduct an evaluation of applications for designation and master plans for park or trail candidates vying for designation into the GMRPTC Regional System.  Members will also provide guidance on system development and planning issues.  The evaluations are conducted in accordance with the GMRPTC Strategic Plan Criteria and Operational Guidelines.
At its discretion, the Commission may select one or more non-voting alternates to learn the role, provide additional perspective and potentially fill any vacancies that occur.  Complete information is included in the ETeam Application and ETeam Application Overview.
Applications are accepted at any time, but for the current consideration cycle must be submitted by September 19, 2018.  For more information, Contact Executive Director Renee Mattson at renee.mattson@gmrptcommission.org or System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski at coordinator@gmrptcommission.org.

ETeam Application Overview

ETeam Application Form

Officials recently held a dedication for the new Northland Regional Sports Park in Beltrami County. Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trials Commissioner Rita Albrecht, along with Executive Director Renee Mattson and System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski, attended the ceremony. The new 200+ acre park features top-quality facilities for trap and skeet shooting, a variety of rifle and pistol ranges, hunter education fields, ATV facilities, and indoor classroom and meeting space. The GMRPTC provided Legacy Amendment funding for a new 200 yard rifle range, indoor meeting space, and ATV trailhead.

Learn more about the dedication HERE.

Come one, come all!

Join us in celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment!

Essentia Duluth Heritage Center will host a very special PARKS AND TRAILS LEGACY CELEBRATION! At this event we will have plenty of activities for all-ages and all-abilities, including rock climbing, biking, an ATV simulator, lots of Legacy project information, and other activities guarantee fun for parks and trails enthusiasts of all abilities.

Each event will be filled with family-friendly activities aiming to engage and inspire people from across the community to get involved with their parks and trails, and to learn about the opportunities the Legacy Amendment offers.

During these events, staff from the ten Metropolitan Regional Parks System’s implementing agencies, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission will gather your ideas and perspectives on Legacy efforts thus far, and invite you to help shape priorities moving forward.

For more information and a list of all 2018 events across the state, visit the website.
www.legacy.leg.mn/ptlac/2018-regional-events
​
​

The new MN Great Outdoors website is a joint initiative of Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, MN DNR and Metropolitan Council.  After almost two years of planning and construction, the new site was launched on June 12, 2018!

https://mn.gov/greatoutdoors/

The website will make trip planning easy and provide a great way to filter a search based on location, accessibility, amenities and features.  Once a search is complete, the site provides the parks or trails that fit the parameters and users simply click through to the individual websites for more detail and planning assistance.

The site provides a comprehensive database of State Parks and Trails, Metropolitan Council Parks and Trails and all Greater Minnesota designated parks and trails, along with snowmobile and ATV trails. 

One of the primary benefits to the designated facilities in Greater Minnesota is the ability for city and county facilities with smaller marketing budgets to gain greater exposure to a much larger audience of park and trail enthusiasts.  To date the site includes 184 parks and 419 trails!  The new site is a win for all involved, and we’re excited to announce the launch at the start of the busy travel season.

CANNON FALLS, Minn. --  U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has designated the Cannon Valley Trail in southeastern Minnesota as a national
recreation trail.

The Cannon Valley Trail is one of 19 newly designated national recreation trails in 17 states announced Wednesday. Zinke says the designations recognize the efforts of local communities to provide outdoor recreational opportunities that can be enjoyed by everyone. The announcement adds more than 370 miles to the National Recreation Trails system of more than 1,000 pathways.

The 19.7 - mile Cannon Valley Trail opened in 1986. It runs through diverse and spectacular scenery along an old rail bed along the Cannon River, connecting the cities of Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing. It's open year-round for hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, skateboarding, and cross-country skiing. It attracts close to 100,000 visits per year.The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission has classified the Cannon Valley Trail as a trail of regional significance in Greater Minnesota.

Complete article: https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-announces-19-new-national-recreation-trails-17-states

Join us in celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment!
125 LIVE in Rochester, MN, will host a very special PARKS AND TRAILS LEGACY CELEBRATION! At this event we will have plenty of activities for all-ages and all-abilities, including a watershed model, outdoor adaptive equipment, lots of Legacy project information, and more!
Rock climbing, an ATV simulator, biking, and other activities guarantee fun for parks and trails enthusiasts of all abilities.
Each event will be filled with family-friendly activities aiming to engage and inspire people from across the community to get involved with their parks and trails, and to learn about the opportunities the Legacy Amendment offers.
During these events, staff from the ten Metropolitan Regional Parks System’s implementing agencies, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission will gather your ideas and perspectives on Legacy efforts thus far, and invite you to help shape priorities moving forward.
For more information and a list of all 2018 events across the state, visit the website.
www.legacy.leg.mn/ptlac/2018-regional-events