William O'Brien State Park

In 1971, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began an effort to expand William O'Brien State Park westward so it could take in the rolling, partly wooded area that is now home to several miles of popular cross-country ski trails. As the DNR waited in limbo for the Legislature to authorize the expansion necessary for buying the land, a developer purchased a big portion of it and quickly moved to develop housing.

Suddenly, the only thing standing between the proposed park expansion and the impending housing development was the Minnesota Parks Foundation, now the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota. Led by then President Samuel H. Morgan, the Minnesota Parks Foundation began a race against time to save the park. In order to win this battle, Morgan and his group recognized they would have to move simultaneously on several fronts. Without a substantial land acquisition fund at its disposal, the foundation launched a major fundraising campaign while working to secure options to buy all of the land within the proposed 750-acre expansion area, including the southerly 197-acre portion held by the housing developer. At the same time these land deals were being negotiated, foundation leaders were working with the Legislature to assure the park boundary expansion bill passed into law.

Thanks to generous financial support from individuals and foundations, the Minnesota Parks Foundation was able to acquire 750 acres for $510,000 through seven separate land deals finalized between July 1972 and January 1973. After the Legislature authorized an 850-acre expansion in 1973, the foundation sold its 750-acre holding to the state for $470,000, donating $40,000 in land value. Since 1973, the Parks & Trails Council has added 100 more acres valued at $567,000 to the 1,520-acre park.

William O'Brien State Park was established in 1947 and was the first metro area state park. Located on the St. Croix River in Washington County, the park is one of the most popular in the state, averaging 240,000 visitors a year.