Author: Lisa Filter
Working together to preserve a natural gem
Anderson Park in Isanti County is an almost perfect example of what can be accomplished when a family, a government body and a group of willing and active volunteers come together.
In 2007, the Anderson family began talking to Isanti County about selling their 174-acre farm to the county. Lee Kingsbury and some of her neighbors heard about the possible sale and knew that if they wanted to have a voice in what happened with the beautiful natural area, they needed to form a Friends Group.
Two community meetings later, the group had lots of ideas, a few donations, volunteers for a planning committee and plenty of enthusiasm—and literal muscle—to make things happen.
Read More
Regional parks: meaningful to state’s outdoor recreation
By Mike Tegeder, president
Parks & Trails Council is very much identified with our great system of Minnesota State Parks. Indeed, a major undertaking in P&TC’s early years was the innovative effort to raise private funds to acquire land for a new state park, which we now know as Afton State Park. A reading of Roy Meyer’s “Everyone’s Country Estate: A History of Minnesota’s State Parks” testifies to our essential involvement with many of the great state parks we now enjoy.
Read More
Parks & Trails Council is very much identified with our great system of Minnesota State Parks. Indeed, a major undertaking in P&TC’s early years was the innovative effort to raise private funds to acquire land for a new state park, which we now know as Afton State Park. A reading of Roy Meyer’s “Everyone’s Country Estate: A History of Minnesota’s State Parks” testifies to our essential involvement with many of the great state parks we now enjoy.
Parks and trails budget will be decided in special session
Over the Memorial Day weekend Gov. Dayton vetoed the omnibus agriculture, environment and natural resources bill, which includes the operating budget for Minnesota’s parks and trails. The governor also vetoed the omnibus jobs and energy bill and education bill, and the legislature has yet to pass a bill appropriating the Legacy Funds, all of which sets up a full workload for a special session.
Read More
Friends bring programs to this wooded wonder
The Friends of Lake Maria was officially organized in 1996, but their actual work began in 1992. That’s when the inaugural “March for the Parks” event began to raise money for programming at Lake Maria State Park.
Read More
Lottery Proceeds Allocated
This bill appropriated $46 million from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for projects across Minnesota. The following portion of this bill was appropriated to parks and trails projects:
Read More
2015 Legislative session ends, questions remain
As the Legislature adjourned the 2015 session last night, we are still left wondering what the end result of this session will be. While some business is finished, other key items were left pending and Governor Dayton indicated today that he will call a special …
Budget bills near final week
We're finally nearing the (hopeful) end of the 2015 legislative session; Legislators have until Monday, May 18 to pass a budget or else they will have to be called back for a special session. As legislators sit down to work towards a budget compromise, now is ...
Read More
Parks and trails budget taking shape at the capitol
This week, the environmental finance committees in both the House and Senate released budget bills that will fund Minnesota’s state parks and trails for the next two years. We are happy to report both recognize the importance of our state parks and trails and have …
Eminent Domain Prohibition
Two separate efforts were made to introduce bills that would have prohibited the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund to be spent to acquire property by eminent domain or to acquire property that has previously been acquired by eminent domain.
Read More
Trail Fee Requirement
Would have required all adults to purchase a pass to bike or roller blade on a state trail in Minnesota. The bill proposed the rates of the pass at $4 per day or $20 per year.
Read More
Require Approval to Add Parkland
This bill would have required that the DNR, prior to acquiring lands for a park or trail outside the seven-county metropolitan area, receive written approval of every city and organized township where the park or trail is located or through which it passes.
Read More
Building a vision for trails
By Mike Tegeder, president
Among the indoor joys of winter is the Omnifest film series at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Last winter marked the 18th year of the event where five giant-screen movies are shown daily at the museum’s Imax Theater. One of the offerings was a film produced by the Science Museum itself, “The Greatest Places.” Seven geographic wonders from around the world are featured. It was great.
Read More
Among the indoor joys of winter is the Omnifest film series at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Last winter marked the 18th year of the event where five giant-screen movies are shown daily at the museum’s Imax Theater. One of the offerings was a film produced by the Science Museum itself, “The Greatest Places.” Seven geographic wonders from around the world are featured. It was great.
Working together to make vital trail connections
By Mike Tegeder, president
Life is a circle. I find myself reliving some of my earliest memories but in new, unexpected ways. Growing up in the freeway-free 50’s I can recall day-long family car trips from Minneapolis to Stillwater. These were fun excursions but it was a tediously long drive. Now it takes less than an hour to drive there—at least when it’s not rush hour. But the memory of those earlier trips came back to me recently on another trip to Stillwater.
Read More
Life is a circle. I find myself reliving some of my earliest memories but in new, unexpected ways. Growing up in the freeway-free 50’s I can recall day-long family car trips from Minneapolis to Stillwater. These were fun excursions but it was a tediously long drive. Now it takes less than an hour to drive there—at least when it’s not rush hour. But the memory of those earlier trips came back to me recently on another trip to Stillwater.
Funding for Casey Jones State Trail
This bill would have appropriated $846,000 in bond proceeds for the continued development of the Casey Jones State Trail in southwestern Minnesota. Bill title: Casey Jones Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated Bill Number: HF 641 & SF 581 House Authors: Schomacker; Hamilton; Swedzinski Senate …
