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

The Trust for Public Land has released their ParkServe analysis tool, a comprehensive standardized database of local parks in nearly 14,000 cities, towns and communities across the U.S. ParkServe uses available GIS information to conduct an analysis of the distance between population and parks, defined as a 10 minute walkable service area among other criteria.

This analysis is a great tool for a broad look at the potential need for additional park space in your community, or to compare your community with others. We recommend using this as an initial analysis to explore your system, but also developing your own criteria that meets local public values for a more in-depth GIS analysis.

Park Serve Analysis Tool LINK

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

Lac qui Parle County has a gem of a County park that has been in development for decades, thanks to the work of the park's friends group. In 2015 the County applied for designation as a regionally significant park, receiving a "High" ranking by the Commission. Having no master plan in place, the County Board and Friends of the Park group started a long process of visioning and planning for the park's future development..

This week, the new Master Plan entered final public review before being finalized and adopted by the County Board! The next step after official adoption will be to submit the Plan to the Greater Minnesota Regional Development Commission through the online portal for final scoring evaluation by the ETeam, the District Planning Committee and the Commission. The Commission will use that evaluation to determine if the park merits designation as a regionally significant park.

Follow the park's progress on their Facebook page HERE.

You can also read the full plan HERE.

For any questions, contact Kristi Fernholz of the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission at kristi.fernholz@umvrdc.org
. 

Sunday's Legacy Celebration event in Marshall was the third of eight being held across the state. Find a future event near you at the Legacy Event website HERE.

From the Marshall Independent:
LEGACY EVENT CELEBRATES MINNESOTA'S PARKS AND TRAILS click here
The combination of fun and education was a major focus at Sunday's Parks and Trails Legacy Celebration, an anniversary event for Minnesota' Clean Water, Land and Legacy Fund. The Legacy Celebration in Marshall is one of several events being held in different parts of the state.

Event organizers hoped to connect people with the outdoors, while at the same time gathering public feedback on how Legacy funds should be used in the future, said Paul Purman, of the Minnesota DNR Parks and Trails Legacy Program.

The snow is still trying to hang on, but the trail is clear and ready for bikes!

Be cautious of ice patches where the snow melt is running across the trail. It can cause patches of black ice ntil the sun heats it up in the morning.

The watch stations have not been turned on yet, so please plan ahead and bring enough water for your drinking. These will be turned on soon.

For more information about the regionally significant Cannon Valley Trail, visit their website HERE!

Rochester Parks and the Quarry Hill Nature Center celebrated the Grand Re-Opening of the Nature Center on Saturday, April 21st. One of the jewels of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails System, the multi-million dollar, 7-week renovation was completed thanks in large part to grant funds made available through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission staff recently toured the finished facility, and invite you to do the same!

Check out pictures of the event on Facebook HERE.

Local TV news REPORT.

Please join us in celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment! Similar to the very successful first event at Silverwood Regional Park in St. Anthony, 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. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the opportunities the Legacy Amendment offers!

Please bring your friends and neighbors to the event nearest or most convenient to you! We are looking forward to hearing from as many Minnesotans as possible. During these events, staff from multiple agencies involved with regional parks and trails will gather your ideas and perspectives on Legacy efforts thus far, and invite you to help shape priorities moving forward.

Click HERE for a full list of days, times and locations. If parks and trails are important to you, you won't be disappointed! See you there.

April 27, 1 - 4 PM, St. John's College, St. Joseph

APril 29, 12 - 2:30 PM, Red Baron Arenda, Marshall

May 11, 5 - 8 PM, Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Park Reserve, Bloomington

May 19, 1 - 4 PM, 125 LIVE, Rochester

June 2, 1 - 4 PM, Itasca State Park, Park Rapids

June 16, 1 - 4 PM, Prairie Wetland Environmental Learning Center, Fergus Falls

June 27, 1 - 4 PM, Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Sports Center, Duluth