Minnesota State Parks and Trails system kicking off 125th anniversary

The Minnesota State Parks and Trails system is kicking off its 125th anniversary celebrations Friday at Fort Snelling State Park.

Fourth-graders from the Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center in Minneapolis will sing “Happy Birthday” to Minnesota state parks and trails and help blow out the candles on a cake.

Parks and Trails director Erika Rivers will unveil new maps, brochures and rule signs for state parks and trails that have been redesigned to better appeal to a new generation of visitors.

And the students will strap on snowshoes and go for a walk with the park naturalist to launch a “125-mile challenge.” It’s a series of events all year long to encourage visitors to log 125 miles by “Bike, Boot or Boat” at state parks and trails in 2016.