group of volunteers stands next to buckthorn pile

Four Friends Groups receive funding for habitat restoration in 2023

Parks & Trails Council is proud to announce the recipients of our 2023 Friends Group Partners Grants. P&TC works closely with these volunteer-based groups, who are important partners for the stewardship of our state’s parks and trails. Each of this year’s awardees put forward compelling and creative proposals for projects that fulfill a commitment to grassroots, community-centered stewardship. All projects were developed in coordination with their respective land management agencies and spearheaded by dedicated Friends Group volunteers. Each project also includes a partial financial match from the Friends Group, which demonstrates their group’s commitment and stretches the impact even further.

We are excited to partner with the following groups and appreciate the hard work that has gone into their restoration projects!

2023 Grant Recipients

Frontenac State Park Association

$2,500

Tree planting and protection in the campground and use area to replace ash trees.

Gateway Brown's Creek Trail Association

$2,500

Map of MN with Gateway-Brown's Creek State Trail

Installing native plantings at a degraded site along the Gateway Trail.

Gitchi-Gami Trail Association

$2,500

Engaging local youth to re-seed drought-afflicted parts of the Gitchi-Gami Trail.

Friends of Lashbrook Park

$2,500

Planting spring ephemerals to create habitat for the endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee.