Friends Groups

May 18, 2017

Friends of the Luce Line West

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is proud to act as the fiscal sponsor for Friends of the Luce Line West.As a fiscal sponsor, we partner to advance their cause and provide the tools and building blocks to run a nonprofit, including receiving, holding and ...
Read More
bicyclists gathered at trailhead
May 16, 2017

Mill Towns State Trail Segment Grand Opening Celebration at Lake Byllesby

Saturday, June 3 from 2-5 pm at Lake Byllesby Regional Park in Goodhue County (Google Map) We’ve been looking forward to this day for five years, since we began partnering to acquire a key parcel for the trail, and now it’s here! Come celebrate the opening of the …

Read More
boy biycling along trail
March 2, 2017

DNR highlights new parks and trails offerings for 2017

New offerings come after record number of visitors utilize state’s parks and trails system in 2016; DNR seeks moderate fee increases to support increased demand for parks and trails maintenance and services. A variety of new experiences await visitors to Minnesota state parks and trails in 2017. For example, you can:
Read More
February 24, 2017

Volunteer naturalists with a passion for Whitewater

Since re-forming the Friends of Whitewater State Park a few years ago, this group of volunteers have found many ways to put their knowledge and appreciation for the park’s natural resources to use.
Read More
February 9, 2017

Friends of Whitewater State Park

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is proud to act as the fiscal sponsor for Friends of Whitewater State Park.As a fiscal sponsor, we partner to advance their cause and provide the tools and building blocks to run a nonprofit, including receiving, holding and administering ...
Read More
January 26, 2017

Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is proud to act as the fiscal sponsor for Friends of Scandia Parks & Trails.As a fiscal sponsor, we partner to advance their cause and provide the tools and building blocks to run a nonprofit, including receiving, holding and ...
Read More
Swallowtail butterfly on a flower
January 25, 2017

Gateway-Brown’s Creek Trail Association

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is proud to act as the fiscal sponsor for Gateway-Brown's Creek Trail Association.As a fiscal sponsor, we partner to advance their cause and provide the tools and building blocks to run a nonprofit, including receiving, holding and administering funds ...
Read More
Bicyclists riding at underpass
December 9, 2016

Friends of Maplewood State Park

Parks & Trails Council is proud to partner with this independent friends group.Parks & Trails Council cannot accept donations on behalf of this friends group. Friends of Maplewood State Park Mission To support and encourage the park’s recreational, interpretive, educational and environmental activities through leadership, ...
Read More
Crafting station in the park
November 26, 2016

Building the Sugar Shack

For years the Friends of Maplewood have been fundraising and coordinating logistics to build a sugar shack for the growing maple syrup interpretive program.
Read More
Workers putting up the siding on the sugar shack
October 11, 2016

Mill Towns State Trail Segment Opens

Like a puzzle, the newest segment of the Mill Towns State Trail involved many pieces fitting together—just so—to complete the picture. Talks began in 2010 between the DNR, three private landowners, two counties, managers of a dam and a highway. This year, with the commitment of trail proponents, the pieces came together to make a great addition to the state trail system.
Read More
boy biycling along trail
October 1, 2016

Getting more people into the woods

In the three years that Nerstrand Big Woods State Park has made friends with a group of committed volunteers, the park has seen skyrocketing visitor numbers. It could be coincidence, good weather, or part of the system-wide trend, but the park manager says the friends …

Read More
closeup of understory flower
September 13, 2016

Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is proud to act as the fiscal sponsor for Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.As a fiscal sponsor, we partner to advance their cause and provide the tools and building blocks to run a nonprofit, including receiving, holding ...
Read More
Group walking through prairie and looking at plants
September 1, 2016

Sibley State Park Improvement Association

Parks & Trails Council is proud to partner with this independent friends group and act as fiscal sponsor for their land acquisition fund.We partner to advance their cause by receiving, holding and administering land acquisition funds on behalf of the friends group. P&TC cannot accept ...
Read More
Group of volunteers from Sibley State Park Imrprovement Association sitting around
August 18, 2016

Glendalough Park Partners

Parks & Trails Council is proud to partner with this independent friends group.Parks & Trails Council cannot accept donations on behalf of this friends group. Glendalough Park Partners Mission To assist the MnDNR in preserving and utilizing Glendalough State Park. Key Activities Raise community funds ...
Read More
Steve Nelson and Lisa Malmstrom stand by poster for Glendalough Park Partners
August 18, 2016

Prairie Visions/Friends of Shooting Star State Trail

Parks & Trails Council is proud to partner with this independent friends group.Parks & Trails Council cannot accept donations on behalf of this friends group. Prairie Visions/Friends of the Shooting Star State Trail Mission For 25 years the main activity has been in supporting the ...
Read More
Norwegian style shelter along the Shooting Star Trail