Author: Ashley Pethan
2019 Grant Resources Guide is Available
Find funding for your Minnesota park or trail by perusing the 2019 Grant Resources Guide. Each year, Parks & Trails Council gathers information about grant programs that friends groups may be interested in applying for directly or in supporting a public land agency in their ...
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Meet the Glacial Ridge Trail Association
From Glacial Ridge Trail Association The outstanding resources along the Glacial Ridge Trail are primarily the result of the last major glaciation of West Central Minnesota. The massive amount of ice, thousands of feet in thickness and loaded with unnumbered tons of rock material, ceased ...
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Meet Friends of Oxbow
From Friends of Oxbow Large bends in rivers are often called “oxbows” due to their resemblance to oxen harnesses. Because of that, the oxbow around the main picnic area of the park inspired the park’s name when the first 465 acres of land were purchased ...
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Friends Groups Make an Impact through Grant Program
P&TC secured $50,000 of grant funding from the Henry S. Crosby Foundation in order to launch a multi-year initiative to engage friends groups in implementing habitat restoration projects in state parks. In 2018, five friends groups each received a $5,000 grant to spearhead a location-appropriate, ...
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2018: A Busy Year for Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails
From Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails In 2018 we continued to work towards enhancing public green spaces in Scandia. We hosted three talks in Scandia, including a citizen science program, and we partnered with the Marine Community Library on two other presentations. Our group ...
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Winter at Zippel Bay Includes Skis and Candlelight
From Friends of Zippel Bay State Park The first candlelight ski of the 2019 season went splendidly. We had gorgeous weather, with temperatures in the upper 20s that evening, and a wonderful turnout of 56 people who signed in, with many more who did not. ...
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Meet the Sibley State Park Improvement Association
A group of local park supporters, along with an active chapter of the Game Protective League, were key drivers in establishing Sibley State Park in 1919. Then, in 1935, the Sibley State Park Improvement Association was established to help enhance and enlarge the park while also ...
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Whitewater State Park Turns 100 – Time to Celebrate!
From Friends of Whitewater State Park Mark your calendars—2019 is going to be a busy year at Whitewater. To celebrate the park's 100th birthday, Friends of Whitewater State Park is working with the DNR to organize and facilitate a series of events. Each month features ...
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Brews & BBQ for Blue Mounds
From Friends of Blue Mounds State Park Clear your calendars for January 12th. Friends of Blue Mounds is excited to announce a partnership with Take 16 for a full day of activities! Enjoy a BBQ lunch, bingo and brews before the candlelight hike, and then ...
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Winter Fun Day at Lake Maria on Jan. 19, 2019
From Friends of Lake Maria State Park This season's Winter Fun Day at Lake Maria will happen on Saturday, January 19, 2019. Some of the exciting activities happening that day are listed below. A winter camping demonstration, which includes a presentation on Wilderness First Aid ...
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Candlelight Ski Party at Frontenac State Park on Jan. 19
From Frontenac State Park Association - Everyone is invited to Frontenac State Park’s Candlelight Ski / Showshoe / Walk Party on Saturday, January 19th from 5 - 8 p.m. Come join in the annual candlelight event. Enjoy a hike, ski, or snowshoe on 2 different ...
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Meet the Lake Wobegon Trails Association
From Lake Wobegon Trails Association - In the early 1990s, the Albany Jaycees, a civic-minded organization, saw the abandoned railroad line running through their town and saw potential to transform it into a trail. Their vision turned into action as they embarked on a multi-year ...
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Friends of Chester Woods finds a unique way to raise money
From Friends of Chester Woods While the Friends of Chester Woods has a strong membership base, we struggle to grow that membership. The main reason we believe people are reluctant to become members is because park visitors must pay to enter the park. Because of this ...
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Friends prepare to install nature playground in Lake Bemidji State Park
From Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park has embarked on a long-term to build a new nature playground in the park. They did much of the work in three weekends, with the help of members of the friends group, boy ...
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Trail connection groundbreaking & other updates about the Mill Towns Trail
From Friends of the Mill Towns State Trail Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 13, Paul Penansky, Director of Parks & Recreation in Faribault, led us in a ground breaking for the Cannon River bridge which will connect trail from 17th Street to White Sands trail head and ...
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