Author: Andrew Oftedal
Minnesota State Parks are open for day-use only. How does that compare to other states?
Trail use has surged in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Minnesota bids farewell to Conservation Pioneer
Legislative Update: Uncertainty remains as the end of session draws near
The end of the legislative session is only three days away, and important pieces of legislation that will impact Minnesota’s parks and trails are still up-in-the-air. Lawmakers have spent most of the week going back-and-forth on what the overall size of the state budget should …
Parks & Trails Legislative News
After a flurry of activity, lawmakers are entering the final stages of the legislative process. The House and Senate presented their budget proposals to Gov. Dayton earlier this week, and now the three sides are working towards agreement on overall spending goals for each area …
Legislative Session Closes with Mixed Results for Parks & Trails
The 2016 Legislative Session came to a close late Sunday with a flurry of activity as legislators worked to pass bills before the mandatory midnight deadline. While legislators were able to strike deals on a supplemental budget and a tax bill, the two sides couldn’t …
Legislative Update: House Releases Bonding Bill
With only five days until the close of the 2016 legislative session, the House released its bonding proposal today (HF 622). In comparison to the Senate bonding proposal that was released two weeks ago, we’re disappointed that the House proposal shortchanges Minnesota’s parks and trails. …
Legislative Update: Senate releases bonding proposal
The Senate released their bonding bill this morning with a proposal to spend $1.8 billion on public infrastructure projects across the state. The Senate plan includes significantly more park and trail projects than did the governor’s $1.4 billion proposal. Specifically, the Senate proposal includes: $33 …
Legislative Alert: Urge your legislators to include parks and trails in bonding bills
Legislative Update: Mid-point of the 2016 legislative session
We’ve reached the mid-point of the 2016 legislative session. Now that the second committee deadline has past, the bulk of legislator’s time going forward will be spent focusing on the major pieces of finance legislation. The major tasks still on the table include the supplemental budget, …
Legislative Update: House committee hears trail bills
The last week at the Capitol was a busy one for parks and trails. A number of bills were heard and continue to move through the legislative process: On Tuesday, March 29, the House Mining & Outdoor Recreation committee heard 20 different park and trail …
Legislative Update: Upcoming House hearing on Minnesota’s trails
This Tuesday, March 29, the House Mining & Outdoor Recreation committee will be hearing testimony on 19 different park and trail bills, including bills on the Greater Minnesota grant program, Chester Woods Trail, Preston-Harmony Trail, Glacial Lakes Trail, Gitchi-Gami Trail, Heartland State Trail, Minnesota Valley …
Legislative Update: Session gets off to a fast start
We’re only a week into the 2016 session, but already lawmakers are moving forward on a number of items that affect Minnesota’s parks and trails. Of particular note: On Tuesday, Gov. Dayton announced his supplemental state budget proposal. The governor’s proposal includes a $3 million …
Parks & Trails Primer on the 2016 Legislative Session
Minnesota lawmakers returned to St. Paul on Tuesday for what is sure to be a full yet speedy legislative session. Legislators have less then three months to work on a laundry list of issues, including passing a capital investment bonding bill, deciding how to spend (or save) …
2014 Bonding Recap
As soon the 2014 legislative session closed at the end of May, parks and trails supporters began celebrating. On May 20, Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law the largest capital investment package for parks and trails since 2008, plus a bill that increased several agency …