This program, administered by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC), intends to assist in acquisition, restoration, development, and engagement in regionally significant parks and trails.
Grant Guide
Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission
Greater Minnesota Regional Legacy Grants
Overview
Application & Review Process
Deadline: July 31, 2024
An online application should be submitted to the GMRPTC. It is then evaluated on the project’s alignment with the Four Legacy strategic directions.
Funding Amount
$20,000 – $1,500,000
There is no minimum or maximum request amount. A local match is not required, but projects with a match will receive special consideration. This grant program is funded by the Parks & Trails Fund that was created through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, which increased sales tax in 2008.
Eligibility
Projects
Land acquisition; recreation facilities (water access, campgrounds, picnic shelters, nature playgrounds, etc.); support facilities (restrooms, benches, etc.); natural resource restoration; connecting people to the outdoors.
Infrastructure
Land/Resource
People/Engagement
Applicants
Local units of government (i.e. cities, counties, townships).
Government Entity
Land Type & Geography
The park or trail where the project takes place needs to have already been designated as regionally significant by GMRPTC. See the GMRPTC website for more details on this process. Only parks or trails outside of the Twin Cities, seven-county metropolitan area are eligible for this designation.
Regional
Parks
Trails
Statistics & Examples
Funding History
| Year | Funds Awarded | # Projects | Average Award |
| FY20 | $8,639,258 | 11 | $785,387 |
| FY19 | 8,809,875 | 13 | $667,682 |
| FY18 | $7,747,810 | 12 | $645,651 |
| FY17 | $8,445,175 | 12 | $703,765 |
| FY16 | $8,046,550 | 13 | $618,965 |
FY20 Project Distribution
Past Award Examples
| Amount | Recipient | Project |
| $27,000 | Redwood County | Upgrade electrical service to 16 RV sites at Plum Creek Park. |
| $88,875 | Goodhue County | Comprehensive trail signage and vault toilet installation on the Cannon Valley Trail. |
| $150,000 | City of Granite Falls | Develop Memorial Park, including main picnic area, kayak launch, group camp, etc. |
| $1,076,410 | City of Rochester | Construct new 18-hole disc golf course and 2k of ski trails equipped with snow-making at Gamehaven Park. |
| $2,297,699 | Wright County | Build 68-unit campground, camper cabins, and supporting infrastructure. |