Regional Workshops for Parks and Trails Legacy Fund set – Make your voice heard!

The 25-year statewide parks and trails plan is beginning to develop

By Peter Morgan, Membership Assistant

One of the most important aspects of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment passed in 2008 is the development of a framework to guide future spending from the Legacy Fund for parks and trails. Essentially, this is an opportunity for Minnesota—and Minnesotans—to decide how important parks and trails are and to set priorities for projects of regional or statewide significance.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will use the framework to finish a 10-year plan for state park needs that will include the Legacy Fund dollars and traditional sources of funding. The DNR has also been charged to create a 25-year plan for what state and regional parks will look like by 2034.

The 10/25 Parks and Trails Legacy Plan, due to the Minnesota Legislature by February 15, 2011, will be developed over the next couple of months with opportunities for both individuals and organizations to share their visions of what Minnesota’s parks and trails should be.

A total of 16 workshops will take place around the state in May and June, providing an opportunity for citizens, friends groups and other interested parties to include input on the 10/25 Parks and Trails Legacy Plan and otherwise make their voices heard as projects and priorities are developed.

If you are willing and able to attend one of the workshops, please contact Brett by e-mail or at 651-726-2457 and let him know which workshop you are planning on attending.

See workshop schedule here  or visit the Parks & Trails Council's events page here

It is important for stakeholders in Minnesota’s parks and trails to take advantage of the opportunity to provide input on the state’s Parks and Trails Legacy Plan, as this play a key role in developing the framework for Minnesota’s parks and trails over the next 25 years.

The goal is to guide how the money available in the Parks and Trails Fund and other traditional sources of funding should be spent. The 10-year plan also will recommend how state and regional park and trail providers can better coordinate with each other.

The Parks & Trails Council is encouraging members to attend the workshops armed with principles it is working to see reflected in the final plan. Download Parks and Trails Fund principles here.

When finished, the plan will include:
• Identification of key benchmarks, such as participation numbers, park attendance, demographics of park users, acreage needs per capita, number of parks and trail mileage.

• A framework and inventory developed by the University of Minnesota Center for Changing Landscapes.

• A revised definition of parks and trails of regional significance.

• A vision for the state and regional park and trail system.

• A plan to increase the number of visitors to state and regional parks.

• Recommendations for funding ongoing land acquisition and park and trail maintenance.

• Requirements for local contributions.

• Assessment of need for new or expanded regional outdoor recreation systems, preserving resources in areas with concentrated populations.

• A plan for trails that takes into account connectivity and the potential for use by commuters.

For more information on the Legacy Fund planning process, please visit http://patl.intergov.mn.gov/