Erika Rivers, the former director of Minnesota State Parks and Trails, is an accessibility advocate and a strong leader in connecting people of all abilities to the outdoors. After more than two decades of accomplishment on behalf of Minnesota’s parks and trails, Erika Rivers will be honored with a lifetime achievement award from Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC).
Rivers will be presented with the prestigious Reuel Harmon Award as part of P&TC’s Annual Shindig at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony on September 25.
“Erika has been a powerful force behind efforts to protect and enhance Minnesota’s parks and trails and to make them more accessible for all,” said P&TC president Brett Feldman. “With vision, persistence, and heart, she continues to champion a future where more people can experience belonging in the outdoors.”
Rivers navigated a 17-year career with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR), starting as a project manager, where she led the planning process for Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park.
As MNDNR assistant commissioner, Rivers shaped statewide conservation policies with her signature collaborative approach. Among her accomplishments was facilitating an agreement for how the Parks & Trails Fund of the Legacy Amendment would be allocated between state, metropolitan, and Greater Minnesota parks and trails. It was a complex negotiation among a nine-member committee, and, according to Rivers, the agreement was finalized in the last five minutes of the final meeting. The result was a 40-40-20 percentage split of the fund, which has stood in place since 2010, during which time the fund provided an influx of over $795 million to parks and trails.
Her last role at the MNDNR was as director of the Parks and Trails Division. There, she managed a $110 million annual budget and more than 1,000 staff to steward over 225,000 acres of state parks and thousands of miles of trails.
Equity and accessibility have been core tenets during her career. She oversaw the development of the MNDNR’s I Can! Programs that aim to provide skill-building experiences for families to help them feel confident while camping, canoeing, fishing, and mountain biking in parks. She prioritized upgrading buildings and other infrastructure within state parks and trails to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
“Erika combines strategic expertise with a genuine commitment to equity and accessibility,” said Lewis Ledford, president and CEO emeritus of the nonprofit America’s State Parks. “Her work has not only strengthened Minnesota’s park system but also inspired a generation of state park leaders.”
Rivers is currently the executive director at Wilderness Inquiry, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting underprivileged communities with the outdoors. In this role, she uses her strategic expertise and background in conservation and outdoor recreation to create opportunities for outdoor adventures for all Minnesotans.
Past Reuel Harmon winners include Sen. Dave Durenberger, Judge David Minge, and Nature Photographer Nadine Blacklock.
Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is an independent nonprofit working since 1954 to acquire, protect, and enhance critical land for the public’s benefit. This is accomplished by advocating on behalf of parks and trails at the state capital, supporting volunteers to care for these special places, and assisting our public partners in acquiring land for parks and trails. Since 1954, Parks & Trails Council has helped to acquire more than 9,277 acres of land at 51 parks and trails.
Our annual award is named in honor of Reuel Harmon, who helped establish Parks & Trails Council in 1954. He went on to lead the organization through 30 years of growth and transformation, utilizing his bold and strategic leadership. He was a dedicated, skilled, and respected person who inspired others to follow his lead. Through his commitment of time, resources, and management, Harmon made significant contributions to preserving Minnesota’s natural heritage.
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