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2018 Legislative Recap
The 2018 legislative session closed with a flurry of activity over its final weekend, and a host of bills were passed in the final hours of session that impact Minnesota’s parks and trails. Now that the legislature is adjourned until next year and all the …
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 …
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park being enhanced with two volunteer projects this summer
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 …
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 …
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 …
Parks and Trails Legacy Amendment Celebration at St. John’s University
From Parks & Trails Legacy Advisory Committee Join in celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment at this free event for central Minnesota! Spread the word and bring your friends and family! The College of Saint Benedict …
Legislative Briefing
The 2018 legislative session continues to creep towards its conclusion. Last week marked the third and final committee deadline, and all the major policy and finance committees have now released, amended and passed their omnibus bills. Those bills now have only one or two more stops …
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 …
Monitor your favorite Minnesota lake or stream as a volunteer for MPCA
By Minnesota Pollution Control Agency– In June 2012, Duluth experienced the worst flooding in its history, causing major erosion and damage to area streams and rivers. A few months earlier, Gail Gilliland began monitoring Knowlton Creek in West Duluth as part of the Minnesota Pollution …
ATV bill has new number and moved to new committee
In an uncommon move, the bill that would allow all-terrain vehicles into two state parks, which we have strongly opposed, has been replaced with a new bill number. The language remains the same, but it is now bill HF4211. We continue to be opposed to …