Friends Groups

June 8, 2018

$750,000 Trail Center Bonding Approved – Glendalough State Park

The Glendalough Citizens Advisory Board was recently informed that Governor Mark Dayton signed the 2018 bonding bill which includes $750,000 for pre-design, design and construction for a new trail and visitor facility in Glendalough State Park. The bonding will augment more than $200,000 of private …

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June 5, 2018

Frontenac to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day on June 9

From Frontenac State Park Association — Volunteers from Frontenac State Park Association are partnering with park staff to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, June 9 from 1 – 3 pm. The park will offer guided nature walks, information about the park’s bluebird nesting …

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woman resting on bench
June 3, 2018

Photos from the June 2 planting party

On June 2, volunteers from the Frontenac State Park Association along with park staff, planted several oak trees and native forbes in the park. The event was funded in part by a grant from Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota.
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Oak savanna restoration project tree planting on June 2, 2018
May 31, 2018

Nineteen projects receive funding during 2018 legislative session

Overall, the 2018 legislative session was a fairly good one for parks and trails. On May 30, Gov. Dayton signed the bonding bill, which included funding for 19 of the 25 projects we were advocating for in our legislative agenda this year. Projects receiving full …

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screenshot of webpage with 2018 investment projects

Glendalough: center & trailhead

Project Overview: A new park visitor center and trail center at Glendalough State Park.
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Sketch of proposed Glendalough Trailhead
May 29, 2018

Planting Party Set for June 2nd

On Saturday, June 2, Frontenac State Park Association is hosting a volunteer planting party as part of an oak savanna restoration in the park. Anyone with a willingness to dig in the dirt and get a little sweaty is welcome to volunteer between 9am – …

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Oak savanna restoration project tree planting on June 2, 2018
May 18, 2018

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park being enhanced with two volunteer projects this summer

Volunteers from the Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods are rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty as they partner with park staff on two exciting projects this summer. The first project is a habitat restoration project on half an acre near the main ...
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May 7, 2018

Decades later, Mt. Tom still provides fantastic views

From MNDNR Sibley State Park icon remains jewel in Kandiyohi County Rising above the treetops at Sibley State Park is an icon of Kandiyohi County –Mt. Tom and its viewing shelter. The shelter, constructed in 1938, became a destination for people who visited one of …

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May 4, 2018

Leaf Mountain Foot Race at Glacial Lakes State Park on 9/22/18

This first annual "Barkley" style marathon at Glacial Lakes State Park was inspired by the exciting and rigorous Barkley 100-mile Marathon in Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. While that particular marathon has inspired books and Netflix documentaries, the Leaf Mountain Foot race will take ...
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May 4, 2018

P&TC awards $5,000 grants to Friends Groups for restoration projects in state parks

Five volunteer-led Friends Groups have each received a $5,000 grant from Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota to spearhead habitat restoration projects within state parks. Parks & Trails Council worked with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to identify potential projects and overlap them with …

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April 20, 2018

Glendalough State Park hosts annual walk April 21

By Glendalough Park Partners — The 22nd annual Walk for Glendalough will be Saturday, April 21, at Glendalough State Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the historic Glendalough lodge, which will be open for tours. There is no fee to enter the park on …

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April 20, 2018

Cleanup the Park at Lake Maria State Park

By Friends of Lake Maria State Park — Volunteer Park Cleanup Day Saturday, April 28 from 10am to 2pm Please join other park volunteers as we help prepare the park for the summer season. Volunteers will be raking, working on trails and planting trees. Lunch …

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April 20, 2018

Totally turtles program at Lake Maria State Park

By Friends of Lake Maria — Totally Turtles! On Saturday, April 14, naturalist Emily Roberts’s program covered all of Minnesota and Wisconsin’s native turtles. Kids learned what makes turtles so unique when a volunteer “transformed” into one! Kids even had the opportunity to hand-feed a …

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March 19, 2018

Friends of Wild River State Park and area school students are a perfect match

CHISAGO — Friends of Wild River State Park has partnered with the Chisago Lake School District Life Work Center (LWC) to engage with students in the outdoors, in safe and enjoyable ways, during all seasons. At their annual meeting and pancake breakfast, the Friends Group …

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March 15, 2018

Loon Program at Lake Maria State Park

By Friends of Lake Maria MONTICELLO – Lake Maria State Park will host an outdoor photography program at the park’s nature center on Saturday, March 24, beginning at 1p.m. Noted outdoor photographer John Pennoyer returns to Lake Maria to share tips on Common Loons and …

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