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BSA Scouts Join Friends of Wild River to Protect Young Oak Trees
On National Get Outdoors Day, youth with a troop of Boy Scouts of America put on their sunscreen and bug spray and “got outdoors” at Wild River State Park. They joined the Friends of Wild River and a DNR naturalist to tackle a conservation project …
Vermilion Ridge Campground Grand Opening
Frontenac to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day on June 9
From Frontenac State Park Association — Volunteers from Frontenac State Park Association are partnering with park staff to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, June 9 from 1 – 3 pm. The park will offer guided nature walks, information about the park’s bluebird nesting …
Photos from the June 2 planting party
Nineteen projects receive funding during 2018 legislative session
Overall, the 2018 legislative session was a fairly good one for parks and trails. On May 30, Gov. Dayton signed the bonding bill, which included funding for 19 of the 25 projects we were advocating for in our legislative agenda this year. Projects receiving full …
2018 Legislative Recap
The 2018 legislative session closed with a flurry of activity over its final weekend, and a host of bills were passed in the final hours of session that impact Minnesota’s parks and trails. Now that the legislature is adjourned until next year and all the …
ATVs in state parks
Allows the operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Hayes Lake State Park Campground, and directs the commissioner of natural resources to provide ATV access routes to said campgrounds.
Legislative Briefing for May 14-18
Last week we issued yet another call-to-action for our supporters to tell lawmakers that all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) don’t belong in Minnesota State Parks. Your voices were heard! On Monday of this week, the conference committee tasked with reconciling the Omnibus Supplemental Budget Bill (HF 4099 / SF 3656) decided against a controversial provision that would have allowed ATVs to use the campground and access routes at Hayes Lake State Park.
Op-Ed in Duluth News Tribune: Speak up on bill to open state parks to ATVs
On May 15 the Duluth News Tribune published an opinion written by Steve Thorne who is is a former deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and a past president of the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota. We fully concur with Thorne’s …
Nerstrand Big Woods State Park being enhanced with two volunteer projects this summer
Legislative Briefing for May 7-11
With just over a week left until adjournment, lawmakers are racing to complete a long list of legislative priorities, including a tax bill, a bonding bill, a supplemental budget, and numerous policy changes. A number of key pieces of legislation affecting parks and trails continue …
Lawmakers need to approve urgent funding for DNR facilities
From MnDNR By Tom Landwehr Let’s imagine if you didn’t do routine maintenance on your house. The furnace tune up you missed turns into a broken heating system. The damp spot in your basement becomes a moldy, unhealthy mess. The small leak in your roof …
DNR’s big vision: a weekend full of accessible outdoor adventures
From MnDNR Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr has a big vision for capital investment this year: to create a whole weekend of accessible infrastructure at one of Minnesota’s most visited state’s parks. The target of his ambition is William O’Brien State Park, located …
Decades later, Mt. Tom still provides fantastic views
From MNDNR Sibley State Park icon remains jewel in Kandiyohi County Rising above the treetops at Sibley State Park is an icon of Kandiyohi County –Mt. Tom and its viewing shelter. The shelter, constructed in 1938, became a destination for people who visited one of …
P&TC awards $5,000 grants to Friends Groups for restoration projects in state parks
Five volunteer-led Friends Groups have each received a $5,000 grant from Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota to spearhead habitat restoration projects within state parks. Parks & Trails Council worked with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to identify potential projects and overlap them with …
