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May 30, 2017

Bonding Bill

The final piece of the 2017 budget agreement was a $988 million bonding bill (HF 5), which passed in the wee hours on the last day of session. The bonding bill funds building and infrastructure projects, including park and trail projects. Specifically, the bill includes: ...
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Great River Ridge State Trail
May 30, 2017

Legacy Funds Appropriation Bill

Legacy Funds The Legacy Bill (HF 707) appropriates revenues from the Legacy Amendment. The bill appropriates $88 million from the Parks and Trails Fund over the next two years, of which 40% is available for state parks and trails, 40% is available for regional parks ...
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May 30, 2017

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund bill (SF 550) appropriates revenues from the Minnesota Lottery dedicated to protect, conserve...
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May 30, 2017

Omnibus Budget Bill

The Omnibus Environment Budget (SF 844) sets the two year budget for state park and trail operations. The good news is the budget should provide sufficient funding to avoid staffing and service cutbacks in state parks and trails, thanks to a key last-minute concession won by Gov. Dayton that ...
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May 30, 2017

Legislative Session ends with mixed bag for parks and trails

The 2017 legislative session is finally over. Minnesota lawmakers wrapped up a four-day special session early Friday morning, and Gov. Dayton signed most of the bills into law on Tuesday following the Memorial Day holiday. While there are still a few outstanding issues at the …

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Minnesota State Capitol
May 24, 2017

17th Annual Bike Ride Planned

Annual Gitchi-Gami Trail Association North Shore Bike Ride will take place on Saturday, August 19, 2017, on the spectacular Gitchi-Gami State Trail and connecting roads.
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Sketched map showing the trail
May 19, 2017

Legislative Update: Uncertainty remains as the end of session draws near

The end of the legislative session is only three days away, and important pieces of legislation that will impact Minnesota’s parks and trails are still up-in-the-air. Lawmakers have spent most of the week going back-and-forth on what the overall size of the state budget should …

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Minnesota State Capitol
May 16, 2017

Mill Towns State Trail Segment Grand Opening Celebration at Lake Byllesby

Saturday, June 3 from 2-5 pm at Lake Byllesby Regional Park in Goodhue County (Google Map) We’ve been looking forward to this day for five years, since we began partnering to acquire a key parcel for the trail, and now it’s here! Come celebrate the opening of the …

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boy biycling along trail
May 15, 2017

Stalemate in budget and bonding for state parks and trails

We've reached the end of a contentious week at the Minnesota State Capitol. Budget negotiations between Gov. Dayton and legislative leaders have reached a stalemate, and will be suspended over the weekend as lawmakers celebrate Mother's Day and the state fishing opener. Negotiations are expected to resume early next week.
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Minnesota State Capitol
May 11, 2017

Noise pollution invading protected areas, new report shows

The great outdoors is becoming a lot less peaceful. Noise pollution from humans has doubled sound levels in more than half of all protected areas in the United States—from local nature reserves to national parks—and it has made some places 10 times louder, according to a new study. And the cacophony isn’t just bad for animals using natural sounds to hunt and forage—it could also be detrimental to human health.
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May 5, 2017

Parks & Trails Legislative News

After a flurry of activity, lawmakers are entering the final stages of the legislative process. The House and Senate presented their budget proposals to Gov. Dayton earlier this week, and now the three sides are working towards agreement on overall spending goals for each area …

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Minnesota State Capitol
April 22, 2017

Legislative Action Alert – Tell Lawmakers to Support Parks and Trails Funding

Lawmakers returned to the Minnesota Capitol this week after their Easter and Passover break and now have a full agenda of work to complete before the constitutional adjournment deadline of May 22. Most policy and finance bills have been passed and are in conference committees to compare the House and Senate version of each bill. Gov. Dayton is also involved in the process as all sides are working to reach an agreement on the final budget.
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Boy crossing rocks at the Headwaters
March 27, 2017

Willard Munger State Trail to be reconstructed near Duluth

MnDNR News Release -- A 5-mile section of the Willard Munger State Trail, between Grand Avenue and Becks Road in West Duluth, will be closed for an extensive construction project from mid-April through August, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
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March 8, 2017

North Country Trail Needs Congress to act to continue development in Minnesota

The longest National Scenic Trail in the country–the North Country Trail (NCT)–runs right through Minnesota on its way from New York to North Dakota; but there’s a snag in completing it that only Congress can fix. In 1982 a route was planned that would bring the trail through 70 miles …

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North Country Trail hikers and sign
March 8, 2017

Rep. Alice Hausman

Representing a bright future for parks and trails

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Rep. Alice Hausman
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