The MnDNR manages over 5,300 campsites at state parks, state rec areas and forest rec areas, as well as 107 group camps and 64 day-use areas. Many of these facilities are more than 50 years old and in need of major renovations to address deferred maintenance, conform to current standards and meet changing recreational needs.

This funding will address extensive deferred maintenance and meet the changing needs of the public by refurbishing campgrounds and group camps, providing amenities such as accessible vault toilets, modern shower buildings, electric hookups, water lines and drinking fountains, picnic tables, fire rings, and broadband/wi-fi. It would also fund improvements to campgounds to provide more separation between user groups.

Many DNR buildings and facilities were built before the advent of state and federal accessibility standards. The DNR has been partnering with the Minnesota Council of Disability to identify opportunities to enhance accessibility.

This funding will enable the DNR to complete accessibility improvements to high-use facilities such as bathrooms, parking areas, showers campsites, trails, and a variety of day-use and interpretive facilities, as well as provide new amenities to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse user base with a variety of physical abilities and skills.

The MnDNR owns and maintains 128 pedestrian and vehicle bridges within state parks, rec areas and scientific and natural areas (SNAs). DNR’s bridge engineers provide asset management services for DNR-owned bridges. These services include periodic inspections, data management, recommendations on routine maintenance, etc. In the past few years, DNR has experienced significant issues with several aging bridges.

In particular, the High Falls Bridge at Tettegouche State Park must be replaced as it was permanently closed in 2023 due to age and flood damage.

Because state parks are generally located outside municipal service areas, wells and onsite water and wastewater treatment systems are required. The average useful life for these amenities is 40 years. In addition, these aging systems are often designed to outmoded standards (including hazardous confined spaces), and have been expanded in a piecemeal fashion over decades. This results in significant safety, operational and maintenance challenges.

The MnDNR has identified some priority sites in need of funding as:

• Itasca State Park
• Lake Bemidji State Park
• Fort Snelling State Park.

To acquire strategic in-holdings for state parks and recreation areas, and high-priority parcels for state trails and public water accesses.

This request would be allocated to maintain, expand, and improve the Metropolitan Regional Parks System, which consists of 54,000 acres of parks and over 400 miles of interconnected trails. The program funds regional parks and trails that provide recreational services similar to those provided in state parks that are located largely outside of the 7-county region.

The Metropolitan Council will match $15 million of state bonds with $10 million in regional funds for a total Regional Parks System capital investment of $25 million. All these funds would be allocated to implementing agencies (e.g., Three Rivers Parks, Dakota County Parks, etc.).

Funding to provide the MnDNR with funds to administer five competitive grant programs, which were established in M.S. 85.019 and designed for local governments across the state to acquire and develop parks and trails.

• Outdoor Recreation Grant Program helps local governments acquire, develop and/or redevelop close-to-home outdoor recreation facilities.
• The Regional Park Grant Program helps local governments acquire shore land, natural areas and threatened habitat, and develop and rehabilitate natural resource-based outdoor recreation facilities of regional significance.
• The Natural and Scenic Area Grant Program helps local governments and school districts acquire and protect natural and scnic areas statewide that are diminishing due to development, especially in high growth areas, shore lands, bluff tops and areas where land use changes may limit future opportunities.
• The Local Trail Connections Grant Program provides grants to local units of government to develop and acquire trail connections to residential areas, schools, workplaces, community centers, recreation areas, trails and parks.
• The Regional Trail Grant Program provides grant to local units of government for development and acquisition of regional trails outside of the metropolitan area.

This funding request is also supported by the nonprofit Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails.