Author: Lisa Filter
Wagon Wheel: trail extension
Extend trail to the river by building a trail bridge and safety improvements, connecting downtown La Crescent to the Mississippi River.
Sibley: land acquisition
Incorporate 16 acres of land within Sibley State Park that Parks & Trails Council purchased in 2017 and worked with Sibley State Park Improvement Association to restore.
Frontenac: boundary expansion
Expand the statutory boundary of Frontenac State Park to include the land Parks & Trails Council acquired for the park.
Swedish Immigrant: trail extension
Connect trail to Interstate State Park by extending it with a 0.5-mile segment that includes a 180-foot bridge and trailhead
State Parks: forest restoration
Restore 255 acres of forested native plant communities in several state parks.
Goodhue Pioneer: land acquisition
Acquire approximately 60 acres located along the legislatively authorized Goodhue-Pioneer State Trail.
State Parks: accessibility enhancements
Design and construction of improvements to bring the facilities within state parks and recreation areas to the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
Lake Vermilion: park development
For development including the Lake Lodge Visitor Center, the campground, renewable energy facilities, and reconstruction of the mine shaft.
Gateway State Trail: Tunnel Crossing
Improve user safety by constructing a tunnel for the trail to cross under Hadley Ave, which is challenging to cross because the street exceeds 8,000 vehicles per day.
ATVs in state parks
Allows the operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Hayes Lake State Park Campground, and directs the commissioner of natural resources to provide ATV access routes to said campgrounds.
Legislative Briefing for May 14-18
Last week we issued yet another call-to-action for our supporters to tell lawmakers that all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) don’t belong in Minnesota State Parks. Your voices were heard! On Monday of this week, the conference committee tasked with reconciling the Omnibus Supplemental Budget Bill (HF 4099 / SF 3656) decided against a controversial provision that would have allowed ATVs to use the campground and access routes at Hayes Lake State Park.
Op-Ed in Duluth News Tribune: Speak up on bill to open state parks to ATVs
On May 15 the Duluth News Tribune published an opinion written by Steve Thorne who is is a former deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and a past president of the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota. We fully concur with Thorne’s …
Legislative Briefing for May 7-11
With just over a week left until adjournment, lawmakers are racing to complete a long list of legislative priorities, including a tax bill, a bonding bill, a supplemental budget, and numerous policy changes. A number of key pieces of legislation affecting parks and trails continue …
Lawmakers need to approve urgent funding for DNR facilities
From MnDNR By Tom Landwehr Let’s imagine if you didn’t do routine maintenance on your house. The furnace tune up you missed turns into a broken heating system. The damp spot in your basement becomes a moldy, unhealthy mess. The small leak in your roof …
DNR’s big vision: a weekend full of accessible outdoor adventures
From MnDNR Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr has a big vision for capital investment this year: to create a whole weekend of accessible infrastructure at one of Minnesota’s most visited state’s parks. The target of his ambition is William O’Brien State Park, located …
