Partnership Opportunity: Legislative Advocacy

Partnering to advance park and trail projects in the 2026 bonding bill

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota advocates at the state capitol for robust investments in parks and trails, as well as policies to protect these natural places while ensuring equitable access. We invite our Friends Group Partners to share their park or trail investment priorities with us so we can potentially partner to advance them together as part of the 2026 bonding bill.

This form is designed to assist your group in assessing the readiness and viability of your project. Please take careful time to review the questions and formulate your answers. The more thoroughly you complete the form, the more effective the advocacy efforts will be.

We will carefully review all submissions and reply with feedback. If your project is a mission-match we will partner to:

  • Provide strategic guidance to advance the project.
  • Create a project-specific fact sheet that you can distribute to lawmakers and other stakeholders.
  • Create a project-specific page on our website.
  • Ensure you stay informed of key legislative dates and opportunities for action throughout the session.

Bonding bill process

Omnibus bonding bills are complex pieces of legislation that fund large-scale public projects. It often takes years of endurance, hard work, and a bit of luck before projects are included in the bill. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, we've learned important elements that elevate requests and will assist partners in the process.

Bonding project submission form

Park Project Questions

Trail Project Questions

Whether of not your project requires matching funds depends. If your project is state-owned (e.g., the DNR), then matching funds are NOT required. If your project is owned by a local entity (e.g., a city or county), the law says that half the project must be paid for with non-state funds. Its' worth asking your local legislators if they are willing to overwrite that provision, however, because that can and does happen. Regardless if a local match if required, legislators love supporting project that offer matching funds. So all the better if you can provide one.