All News

Special Places Newsletter Spring 2024

In this Issue From P&TC president: Replace State Park Lands | Online Store  |  2024 Legislative agenda  |  Grand Portage webinar recap  |  E-bike rules  |  Minnehaha Regional Park
Read More

Get to know e-bike rules in Minnesota

Minnesota codifies e-bike classes and offers rebate incentive to buy your own If you’ve spent time on Minnesota trails in the last few years, you may have noticed a growing trend: Electric bicycles, or e-bikes now make up the fastest-growing bicycle segment. And all projections ...
Read More
Three young adults bicyling down a wooded trail

Indigenous informed management at Grand Portage State Park

× On Dec. 7, 2023 P&TC hosted a webinar presented by leaders from Grand Portage State Park. This article stems from that content. An inspiring example of parks as a shared resource and benefit Heading north along the North Shore on Hwy. 61, on the ...
Read More
Tall waterfall

Meet the Friends of Minnehaha

The Friends of Minnehaha Park came into being in early 2023.  Susan Glenn, a resident of Kenny neighborhood and a lifelong nature and history lover and park user, spent many hours outdoors exploring the park and sharing the love of the park with family and ...
Read More

PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA UNVEILS A REFRESHED BRAND

Moving into its 70th year with a new logo that reflects its mission and vision Today, Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC) has launched a clean, fresh rebrand. As the leading nonprofit working to support and protect parks and trails in Minnesota, we’re excited …

Read More

Friends help secure major funding for trail extension

Overall, this was a good year for parks and trails, but especially so for the Mill Towns Trail, which saw an incredible $8.19 million investment from the 2023 bonding bill. The Friends of Mill Towns State Trail were instrumental in making it happen. Over the …

Read More
Group of 11 people standing on an outdoor plaza

2023 LEGISLATIVE RECAP

Significant victories for parks & trails The 2023 Legislative Session began Jan. 3 and adjourned May 22, 2023. It resulted in the largest parks and trails investment package in state history. Numerous trails received funding for extensions, and we avoided an onerous permit fee increase. …

Read More
Minnesota State Capitol Dome

Our Research bike is in motion again

Pedaling all Minnesota’s paved state trails It’s been over five years since Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota completed our ambitious Research Bike project. Since then, pavement conditions have changed, and additional miles have been added, so it’s time to re-ride the trails to document …

Read More
Person with bright yellow vest riding a bike on a trail with Lake Superior on their left

Anthony Taylor’s speech

Parks & Trails Council 2023 Reuel Harmon Award was presented to Anthony Taylor during our Annual Dinner. Here is the full acceptance speech Anthony delivered at the dinner.   “Good evening, friends, family, and fellow advocates. I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to be …

Read More
Two people in suits with one holding a wooden award with a loon

Anthony Taylor

Building equitable access to the outdoors

Read More
Headshot of Anthony Taylor in an orange shirt with leaves in the background

Mulch and mud pies: a nature play area opens at Tettegouche

After three years of hard work, the Friends of Tettegouche held the ribbon-cutting ceremony for their Nature Play Area on Saturday, August 26th. The play area, which is designed to be ADA-accessible and includes a variety of play features, is located at the park’s High ...
Read More
Members of the Friends of Tettegouche hold a ribbon intertwined with leaves while the assistant park manager prepares to cut it.

Webinar: Invasive Species of Minnesota

Details Hear from Laura Van Riper, Terrestrial Invasive Species Coordinator for the Minnesota DNR, about some of the most concerning invasive plants and animals in the state, as well as what the average citizen can do to counter them. More Webinar Recordings
Read More

DNR Update: MOUs for Friends Groups

Arielle Courtney, DNR Parks & Trails Partnership Development Consultant, shares an opportunity to offer feedback on an updated template Memorandum of Understanding agreement that will be eventually used with all Friends Groups, as well as a reminder about September events.
Read More

Cleaning up at the Gateway State Trail

On August 5th, a group of volunteers gathered at Rotary Park in North Saint Paul to clear out an overgrown stretch of the Gateway State Trail. This event was the opening act in a project led by the Gateway Brown's Creek Trail Association and funded ...
Read More

Parks & Trail Council’s land acquisition program gains major potential

Parks & Trail Council is proud to announce a significant advancement in the potential funding of our land acquisition program. For the first time in our history, we have applied for funding from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) to help us acquire land …

Read More
ENRTF logo