There is no doubt that volunteer organizations are helping to make many Greater Minnesota parks and trails a reality. Whether helping raise funds for construction or organizing clean up work crews, many of our facilities wouldn't be what they are without dedicated local volunteer support.

Minnesota Public Radio has shared this fantastic look at how volunteers are making a difference at several parks and trails statewide, including many regionally significant partners of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission. A shout out as well to our Executive Director, Renee Mattson, who was interviewed for this article.

MPR: In Duluth, skiers (and bikers, hikers, climbers and others) step up to build trails

The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office has announced hundreds of open seats on a wide ranging set of State boards, councils, and commissions.  A full list of the available positions can be found HERE. 

Included in that list are several positions on the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission. Potential applicants may apply for a position to represent their District, or apply for the At-Large position.  Learn more about the available positions and applications HERE. The list of current Commission members can be found on the Commission's website.

For more information, please contact GMRPTC Executive Director Renee Mattson at renee.mattson@gmrptcommission.org. 

From the MN DNR, September 30, 2019
Apply starting Oct. 23 for funding aimed to increase outdoor experience, education and stewardship
Lifelong lessons and care for Minnesota’s tremendous outdoor heritage start with quality time outdoors. The Department of Natural Resources is offering a new grant program called “No Child Left Inside” to help more children cast a fishing line, study animal tracks, hike or bike, or simply learn more about nature. 
“We’re excited to be putting some funding toward getting kids outdoors. The time is now,” said Jeff Ledermann, DNR’s education and skills team supervisor. “Minnesotans care deeply about the outdoors. Kids in past decades were outdoors early and often, but that’s not a given anymore so these grants are here to boost outdoor programs and initiatives all around the state.”
Public entities and nonprofit organizations serving youth under age 18 are eligible to apply for this first phase of the grant program, which features a simple application and a quick review. In the first phase, $182,000 is available for programs all around Minnesota. The minimum request is $500 and the maximum is $5,000. Future phases of the grant program will have larger grant awards with more extensive application and review processes.
Applications can be submitted starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, and awards will be made on a rolling basis. Matching dollars are encouraged but not required. The application period will close once all the money is awarded. The earliest date to start reimbursable project work is Sunday, Dec. 1, and the reimbursable grant project work must be completed by Monday, June 1, 2020.
“We’re urging folks to be creative in how they approach getting youth outdoors and if in doubt, please apply for these grants,” Ledermann said. “We’re anticipating a strong response from people who work with youth every day—we know they have great ideas.”
The 2019 Minnesota Legislature authorized the No Child Left Inside grant program. Funding can be used for outdoor recreation equipment, transportation and related natural resource education expenses. Factors the DNR will consider in determining awards include whether the project:

• Contributes to a geographically balanced distribution of awards.
• Provides students with direct experiences and understanding of nature.
• Uses research-based, effective environmental, ecological, agricultural or other natural-resource-based educational curriculum.
• Maximizes the number of participants.
• Serves children with limited opportunities to outdoor activities.
• Uses public parks and other natural resource venues and personnel as resources.
• Commits matching funds or in-kind support.

For more information on the grant program and a link to the application, visit the DNR’s recruit, retain and reactivate page.

GMRPTC District 2 Commissioner Bryan Pike recently visited Ramsey Park in Redwood Falls. Ramsey Park is one of 61 regionally-significant parks or trails designated by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission.

Which regional parks or trails have you visited recently?

Explore Minnesota's system of regional and state parks at  https://mn.gov/greatoutdoors/

Do you have a trail in need of data on how it’s used?
 
If so, the Parks & Trails Council (P&TC) is interested in partnering with you. P&TC has been conducting trail counts since 2015 and is looking to help cities and counties in Greater Minnesota better understand how their trails are used. P&TC will provide a trail counting plan, counting equipment, and a trail usage report summarizing the season's data. This is a great opportunity for cities and counties that want data on their trails but don't have the resources or expertise to collect it themselves.

Anyone interested in partnering with P&TC during 2019 should start by filling out this online survey. Please complete the survey by Tuesday, May 14. Applicants will be notified by May 17.

Please know that P&TC will likely be able to select only one or two projects for 2019, but hopes to expand their services in future years to partner with additional cities and counties across Minnesota. 
​
For more information, please visit www.parksandtrails.org and search "Research & Reports" or contact P&TC Research and Policy Manager Andrew Oftedal at 651-726-2457.

​The GMRPTC held the April Commission meeting in Brainerd at the Northland Arboretum, a beautiful facility of more than 600 acres, located right in the heart of Brainerd.  A lovely facility surrounded by acres of trees and wildlife.
 
Following the meeting we had the opportunity to tour one of Greater Minnesota’s designated parks, Milford Mine Memorial Park, located in Crow Wing County.  The park is unique in the Greater Minnesota system.  The park honors and preserves the memory of 41 miners who perished in the worst mine disaster in Minnesota.
 
On February 5, 1924, 48 miners were working their typical shift at the Milford underground mine at the 165 and 175-foot levels.  Just 15 minutes from the end of their shift the mine was suddenly flooded with water and mud.  And in less than 20 minutes the 200-foot deep mine shaft was filled to within 15 feet of the surface.  Only seven of the 48 miners were able to make it to the surface, the other 41 men died in the accident.
 
The park is a beautiful tribute to the miners and serves as a stark reminder of the perils of underground mining.  A beautiful boardwalk over the water that now covers the area of the mine.  Along the boardwalk are planks etched with the name of each of the miners who died as well as the seven miners who survived the disaster.
 
Visitors traverse the boardwalk to the site of mining activities and the mine shaft that has been fenced off for safety but does not inhibit viewing.  Building foundations have been uncovered and throughout the park interpretive plaques provide information and context about the site.
 
One of the most touching aspects are the plaques that describe each of the miners, their age, where they came from and most heart rendering, the details about who they left behind.  Most of the miners were married and left behind not only grieving wives, but among them 88 fatherless children.
 
The park has been built in phases beginning in 2010 and completed in 2017.  It’s a beautiful spot in nature and while it commemorates an awful tragedy, it also celebrates the lives of those lost.
 
When you’re next in the Brainerd Lakes area, or enjoying a ride at Cuyuna, take a little detour and visit this gem of a park.

The Gull Lake Trail, a Legacy-supported Regional trail planned to connect East Gull Lake to the Paul Bunyan Trail in Nisswa, received some great coverage in the Lake Country Journal. Thanks to all of the communities and champions who are working together to make this dream a reality!

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission will be hosting a series of FREE District Workshops across the state in late April and early May.

All park and trail managers, outdoor recreation advocates, city/county administrators, land commissioners, and others responsible for parks and trails in Greater Minnesota are encouraged to attend.

Each meeting will feature a special guest presenter from that District, highlighting a unique case study or special expertise from a regional park or trail in that District. Updates to the application system and new Master Plan training will also be a part of the agenda.

For more information, visit ​https://www.gmrptcommission.org/districtworkshops.html
or see the attached flyer.

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) announces the upcoming availability of funding application for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. All park and trail facilities in the GMRPTC System may begin their online applications on April 8, 2019. The application portal will close on August 2, 2019.

"We are excited to learn about the great projects cities and counties in the Greater Minnesota Regional System will be pursuing in their applications for funding," said Renee Mattson, Executive Director of the GMRPTC. "Last year we received 21 applications and were able to provide funding for 11 of them. That's nearly a dozen communities that will see significant improvement to their outdoor recreation facilities thanks to the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment."

There are some changes coming to this year's application system that potential applicants should note.

System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski said, "Every year we learn from the previous year, making changes to our funding guidelines and adding tools or information to our application portal that will help applicants to be successful. Applicants should be sure to review the Funding Criteria and Guidelines carefully to make sure they understand it. They can also make sure of the extensive information and directions available at every point of the online application with the simple click of a button."

Applicants for Regionally Designated facilities will be able to start a funding application attached to their facility's Master Plan in the Data Management System, found HERE.

The recently updated Funding Guidelines and Criteria are attached, or can be found in the Application Toolbox HERE.

Additional tools, such as updated tutorials and application content guides, are in progress and should be available by the time the application portal opens. If you have any questions, please contact Czapiewski at coordinator@gmrptcommision.org.