Friends of Blue Mounds State Park

March 15, 2022

Eight friends groups receive grants from P&TC in 2022

Parks & Trails Council continued its popular Friends Group grant program in 2022 by issuing grants ranging from $350-$3,450 to eight friends groups. As a stewardship partner to specific parks and trails, Friends Groups can play a significant role in supporting habitat restoration efforts, trail ...
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kids filling a hole of a newly planted tree
March 1, 2022

2021 Friends Group Habitat Restoration Grants Recap

In 2021, Parks & Trails Council partnered with nine friends groups to spearhead habitat restoration projects at state and regional parks and trails. See the recap below. 2021 by the Numbers $7,500 $4,360 9 82 8.5 921 Funds granted Local cash match Friends Group Partners ...
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group of volunteers stands next to buckthorn pile
April 5, 2021

P&TC issues 9 grants to friends groups for habitat restoration projects

Nine volunteer-led friends groups will implement habitat restoration projects at Minnesota parks and trails this year with funds issued by Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC). The projects include planting and protecting trees, removing invasive species, and collecting native plant seeds. The projects will ...
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shovels and trees that are ready to be planted
February 3, 2021

2019-2020 Youth Engagement Grant Projects In Review

In 2019, Parks & Trails Council launched a grant program designed as a partnership with friends groups to engage youth in parks and trails. In this first year of the program we began working with eight friends groups who identified innovative ways to engage youth ...
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Kids bike away from the park building
October 2, 2020

Meet the Friends of Blue Mounds State Park

When Blue Mounds State Park’s lost its swimming lake to a flood in June 2014, there was robust debate about whether to rebuild the dam that created the lake. The ultimate decision to not rebuild led to the formation of a citizen advisory group in 2017. Their goal: plan the park’s new future.
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Five adults working with clippers and gloves near rock mound
May 26, 2020

Fall/Winter 2019 Newsletter Updates

From Friends of Blue Mounds State Park In This Issue Notes from the Naturalist Park Notes Grants Update Photo Corner Photo by: Tanya O'Leary Click to Read Full Newsletter Go to friends' main page
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January 29, 2020

Partnership restores patches of habitat at seven state parks

In 2019, Parks & Trails Council partnered with seven friends groups to spearhead habitat restoration projects at state parks. This work was made possible by a generous grant from the Henry S. Crosby Foundation. 2019 by the Numbers $25,364 7 237 11 493 Funds granted ...
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friends and youth celebrate having planted a tree
October 11, 2019

Getting youth outdoors by partnering with Friends Groups

School is back in session. And for some lucky students this fall, their classroom happened to be a park or trail for a day.
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Fifth-graders explore the woods at Lake Maria
July 25, 2019

Working with Friends to improve landscapes at seven state parks

Trees, trees, trees! Earlier this spring, volunteers, young and old, could be found with shovels in hand at seven state parks—Blue Mounds, Lake Bemidji, Minneopa, Sibley, Tettegouche, and Whitewater—where they were planting and protecting trees (and shrubs) in key areas of the landscape.
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volunteers planting trees
June 24, 2019

Youth Engagement Grant Awards – Round 1

Five volunteer-led friends groups will implement youth engagement projects at state parks and trails this year, with support from the Minnesota DNR and funds issued by Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC). The projects include organizing field trips, hosting recreation opportunities, and developing hands-on ...
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kids looking over bog through binoculars
March 15, 2019

P&TC Issues Grants to Seven Friends Groups to Complete Habitat Restoration Projects

Seven volunteer-led friends groups will implement habitat restoration projects at state parks this year, with support from the Minnesota DNR and funds issued by Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC). The projects include planting trees, protecting young saplings, and diversifying tree canopy.
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Oak savanna restoration project tree planting on June 2, 2018
January 7, 2019

Brews & BBQ for Blue Mounds

From Friends of Blue Mounds State Park Clear your calendars for January 12th. Friends of Blue Mounds is excited to announce a partnership with Take 16 for a full day of activities! Enjoy a BBQ lunch, bingo and brews before the candlelight hike, and then ...
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June 22, 2016

DNR Release: DNR decides not to rebuild Blue Mounds State Park dam

The Department of Natural Resources has decided against rebuilding the dam and lake reservoir at Blue Mounds State Park near Luverne in southwestern Minnesota, citing concerns about water quality, endangered species and other factors.
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Dam washout