Recently, Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Executive Director Renee Mattson and System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski toured the Duluth Traverse, a 100-mile mountain bike trail system spanning the length of the City of Duluth. The city has applied for regional designation for the trail, recently receiving a “high” ranking for their application as a Special Recreation Feature facility.
Applying for designation as a regionally significant park or trail is a thorough process designed to not only vet parks and trails against rigorous criteria, but to also help elevate facilities to reach their full potential. Regionally designated parks in Greater Minnesota are eligible for Parks and Trails Legacy amendment funding. Greater Minnesota cities and counties begin by self-evaluating their facility against criteria established in the Commission’s Strategic Plan. Duluth used tutorials in the Commission’s website “application toolbox” that can help with this process. When they were comfortable that the Traverse was a potential match, they completed an application through the GMRPTC’s online application portal. The application was then ranked against the criteria by an independent Evaluation Team (ETeam), a group of five individuals selected by the Commission for their expertise in recreation development and evaluation. For Duluth, the application review resulted in a “high” ranking on a high/medium/low scale. That means that the Traverse compares well against the criteria and should complete a qualified Master Plan. The Commission provides an online Master Planning portal, a step by step guide for completing all the information required for a unit Master Plan. Once that plan is completed and submitted in the portal, a higher level of evaluation kicks into gear. Master Plans ensure that the applicant understands and takes advantage of the opportunities available to it while meeting the needs of the region. Commission staff reviewed the Master Plan and provided Duluth with feedback on how it could be improved. Once complete, the ETeam will conduct a comprehensive scoring evaluation of the plan, resulting in a score on a 500 point scale. With that information in hand, the GMRPTC District Planning Committee for District 1 has a chance to review and comment on the plan, while staff conduct an on-site review of the facility. The on-site review gives staff a chance to understand the plan in the local context and to talk to the applicant about the great things their facility will accomplish. Sometimes, like with the Traverse, it results in a little “hands-on” exploration by foot, ATV, or fat bike. All this information is then presented to the Commission for consideration as a regionally significant facility. It’s important to note that it is the future concept for the facility, not necessarily its current state, that is evaluated and designated. The Commission has designated a range of facilities, from ones that are completed and possibly in need of rejuvenation, to ones that haven’t yet turned the first shovel full of dirt. The final scoring and consideration of the Duluth Traverse will likely take place early in 2018. For more information about regional designation, please contact System Plan Coordinator Joe Czapiewski at coordinator@gmrptcommission.org. ecember 13, 2017 The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission has announced grant recommendations for the FY19 funding cycle. The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission was established in 2013 to carry out system planning and provide recommendations to the legislature for grants funded by the Legacy Parks and Trails fund to counties and cities outside the seven-county metropolitan area, for parks and trails of regional significance. Of the 47 regionally designated parks and trails in the Greater Minnesota system (at the time of application), the Commission received 19 applications and selected 13 projects totaling $8,809,875, to recommend for legislative approval. Successful applicants submitted projects that met the 25-Year Legacy Plan Strategic Directions:
“These grants will truly shape communities and provide enhanced opportunities for outdoor recreation in Greater Minnesota for both residents and visitors” said Tom Ryan, Commission Vice Chair. In addition to helping create and maintain recreation resources, parks and trails Legacy grants contribute to the state’s economy and its vital $13 billion travel and tourism industry, with 250,000 full and part-time workers. The complete list of grant recommendations for Fiscal Year 19 Project Award Red Lake River Corridor Joint Powers Board $200,786 Red Wing Barn Bluff Park $1,137,433 Elk River Woodland Trails Park $362,000 Cannon Valley Trail $1,055,135 Granite Falls Memorial Park $732,261 Cohasset Tioga Recreation Area $690,000 Big Falls Campground and Horse Camp $1,278,030 Redwood County Plum Creek Park $301,435 Hermantown Proctor Munger Trail Spur $820,000 Lyon County Twin Lakes Park $342,470 Lake County Mountain Bike Trails $659,000 Isanti County Irving & John Anderson County Park $594,000 Rochester Cascade Lake Park $637,325
The Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Council and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission are seeking qualified applicants to serve on the Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee.
The purpose of the Legacy Advisory Committee is to promote and coordinate implementation of the 25 Year Parks and Trails Legacy Plan. Funding recommendations for individual projects is not a part of this committee's work. Note: This is not an application for the GMRPTC. See the release for more information. APPLICATIONS DUE DECEMBER 16. DNR Press Release Application Form The Bike+Walk Minnesota Conference is a multidisciplinary conversation about the intersection of active transportation, community development, inequities, and advocacy. Professionals and advocates from across Minnesota will come together and go beyond breakout sessions to explore connections between biking and walking, discuss how communities are creating better public spaces for all users, and address the open-ended question of what comes next for transportation and recreation options in the North Star State.
Link Here! Congratulations to Crow Wing County on the grand opening of the Milford Mine Memorial Regional Park. This park commemorates the 41 miners lost in 1924 when the main iron ore mineshaft collapsed. Thanks to Legacy funding through the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, the County was able to complete the memorial, interpretive displays, a boardwalk and other improvements providing access to the site's historic and natural features.
Article and video on the park grand opening link Park information link Motorized trail advocates, club leaders, agency representatives and others recently met in McIntosh, Minnesota to discuss collaboration opportunities under Legacy amendment funding. The Greater Minnesota Regional Development Commission’s District 2 Planning Committee convened the meeting as a part of a GMRPTC strategic initiative to identify and develop key unmet outdoor recreation needs in the region. More than 20 people from across the district and state participated in the introductory meeting. “Participants spent time getting to know one another, sharing their challenges in building and maintaining a variety of trails, and understanding just how Legacy funding might help the system,” said Joe Czapiewski, System Plan Coordinator for the GMRPTC. Next steps will include forming a task force to explore the extent of the motorized trail system in northwest Minnesota and build consensus on what might be priorities for Legacy investment. “The Legacy Amendment was passed by Minnesotans in part to support the very type of facilities many of our local groups are trying to build,” said Czapiewski. “By determining which trails have the best potential for regional impact, we can invest those dollars in a way that will improve the entire system for everyone.” The Commission is responsible for system planning and providing recommendations to the Legislature for grants funded by the Parks and Trails Legacy fund to cities and counties outside the seven-county metropolitan area for designated parks and trails of regional significance. After its August meeting, Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commissioners joined members of the Legacy Advisory Committee and Redwood Falls City Parks staff for a tour of Ramsey Park. The park features spectacular falls on the Redwood river as well as a zoo, play and picnic areas, and trails.
Redwood Falls recently completed an extensive renovation project in Ramsey Park, funded with Legacy dollars through the Commission. Using cutting edge construction techniques and context-sensitive design, 3.5 miles of walking trails were reconstructed throughout the park, including improvements to the falls overlook. Bathroom renovations and replacement were also completed. “Without the (Legacy) funds the City of Redwood Falls would not have completed the project,” said Jim Doering, Public Works Project Coordinator for Redwood Falls. When asked about the process of becoming regionally designated, Doering said “Get working on your Master Plan and find some way to document usage! Most of us are sick of plan development but in this case it is a real eye opener. Working with the public and grass roots organizations, you can develop a sustainable and living master plan that will help guide you through prioritizing projects and garnering estimates which helps you develop a solid application. Public surveys, online registrations etc. will show who your patrons are and how far they have traveled to use your park which reveals your regional status.” Learn more about Ramsey park at https://redwoodareacommunitycenter.com/area-parks/alexander-ramsey-park/. The Commission is responsible for undertaking system planning and providing recommendations to the Legislature for grants funded by the Parks and Trails Legacy fund to cities and counties outside the seven-county metropolitan area for designated parks and trails of regional significance. Mike Hulett, a founding member of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, was honored at the August Commission meeting for his four years of service. One of the governor’s original appointees to the Commission, Hulett has represented District 3 in west central Minnesota. He retired from the Commission in August as its Chair. Hulett also served as a Moorhead City Councilor.
"It was an honor for me to be selected four years ago to serve on the newly formed Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trials Commission,” said Hulett. “I was given an opportunity to apply my management knowledge and skills, along with my experiences as a long-time parks and trials user, to this important developing endeavor. In doing so, I received a significant parks and trails education from the other Commissioners and the consultants, experts all.” Tom Ryan, fellow Commissioner and current Vice-Chair, said “The GMRPTC extends our warmest thanks and best wishes to our Chairman, Mike Hulett. We will all miss Mike’s leadership, enthusiasm, advocacy and commitment to public service. Our Commission and our State is the better for his gift of time and effort.” Hulett and his wife Janie plan to spend winters in Arizona while continuing their summer camping tradition at Itasca State Park and other parks across Minnesota. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and include two members from each of the six Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Districts and one member-at-large. The Commission is responsible for system planning and providing recommendations to the Legislature for grants funded by the Parks and Trails Legacy fund to cities and counties outside the seven-county metropolitan area for designated parks and trails of regional significance. GMRPTC staff recently toured the regionally-designated Cannon Valley Trail - and completely agree with this overview of a fantastic regional trail! Link To "Only In Your State" Article
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Monday, July 12, 2017 For more information contact: Joe Czapiewski, System Plan Coordinator 218-556-3651 or coordinator@gmrptcommission.org Members of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission recently visited the Northland Regional Sports Park in Beltrami County. The NRSP is a partnership between Beltrami County, which owns the 360-acre site, and the Headwaters Shooting Sports Association, which is building and operating the facility. While the NRSP will be a multi-use facility featuring a variety of motorized and non-motorized trails, nature areas, and camping options, the park is classified by the GMRPTC as a Special Recreation Feature park because of the high quality and regional impact of the shooting sports amenities. Headwaters Shooting Sports Association representative Mark Farabee provided a tour for GMRPTC Commissioners LuAnn Wilcox, Tim Kennedy, Rick Anderson and Mike Hulett. GMRPTC supported the facility with Legacy funding for the construction of mixed use (motorized and nonmotorized) trailhead facility and a 200-yard bench rest rifle range. GRMPTC provides Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment funding for city and county parks and trails in Greater Minnesota that have been designated as regionally significant and lie outside the seven-county metropolitan area. For more information on the work of the GMRPTC and to view all the designated parks and trails in Greater Minnesota visit: www.gmrptcommission.org. |
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