All News

July 15, 2017

Making Minnesota’s trails count, one person at a time

In 2015, Parks & Trails Council initiated a program to collect data on how many people use Minnesota State Trails. That study was just the start, however, and we’re excited to announce we are expanding the program in 2017 with the addition of automated trail …

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trail counting box on trail
July 12, 2017

Supporter & Board Member Spotlight: Dorothy Anderson

Our members’ stories are essential to our story. The deep connection we all have with the places preserved as parks and trails provide inspiration to continue to advocate for these special places. Here is board member Dr. Dorothy Anderson’s story. As the eldest of 11 …

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Dorothy Anderson
July 10, 2017

Most parks in the U.S. suffering from noise

Listen!… What do you hear? According to a May 5 report in the magazine Science, chances are high that even if you’re in a park, what you’re hearing is human-created sounds—and they’re muffling out the natural ones. Researchers measured noise levels at 500 sites across …

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Hiker amidst tall trees on the Superior HIking Trail
June 27, 2017

We’re hiring!

As we work to develop our Friends Group program, we are adding a new member to our team. The Friends Group Coordinator is a position that has the potential to bring Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota to a whole new level with expanded capacity to partner with Friends Groups across the state in supporting parks and trails.
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People talking at P&TC table outdoors
May 30, 2017

Legislative Session ends with mixed bag for parks and trails

The 2017 legislative session is finally over. Minnesota lawmakers wrapped up a four-day special session early Friday morning, and Gov. Dayton signed most of the bills into law on Tuesday following the Memorial Day holiday. While there are still a few outstanding issues at the …

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Minnesota State Capitol
May 19, 2017

Legislative Update: Uncertainty remains as the end of session draws near

The end of the legislative session is only three days away, and important pieces of legislation that will impact Minnesota’s parks and trails are still up-in-the-air. Lawmakers have spent most of the week going back-and-forth on what the overall size of the state budget should …

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Minnesota State Capitol
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 …

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boy biycling along trail
May 15, 2017

Stalemate in budget and bonding for state parks and trails

We've reached the end of a contentious week at the Minnesota State Capitol. Budget negotiations between Gov. Dayton and legislative leaders have reached a stalemate, and will be suspended over the weekend as lawmakers celebrate Mother's Day and the state fishing opener. Negotiations are expected to resume early next week.
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Minnesota State Capitol
May 11, 2017

Noise pollution invading protected areas, new report shows

The great outdoors is becoming a lot less peaceful. Noise pollution from humans has doubled sound levels in more than half of all protected areas in the United States—from local nature reserves to national parks—and it has made some places 10 times louder, according to a new study. And the cacophony isn’t just bad for animals using natural sounds to hunt and forage—it could also be detrimental to human health.
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Parks & Trails Legislative News

After a flurry of activity, lawmakers are entering the final stages of the legislative process. The House and Senate presented their budget proposals to Gov. Dayton earlier this week, and now the three sides are working towards agreement on overall spending goals for each area …

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Minnesota State Capitol
April 22, 2017

Legislative Action Alert – Tell Lawmakers to Support Parks and Trails Funding

Lawmakers returned to the Minnesota Capitol this week after their Easter and Passover break and now have a full agenda of work to complete before the constitutional adjournment deadline of May 22. Most policy and finance bills have been passed and are in conference committees to compare the House and Senate version of each bill. Gov. Dayton is also involved in the process as all sides are working to reach an agreement on the final budget.
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Boy crossing rocks at the Headwaters
March 27, 2017

Willard Munger State Trail to be reconstructed near Duluth

MnDNR News Release -- A 5-mile section of the Willard Munger State Trail, between Grand Avenue and Becks Road in West Duluth, will be closed for an extensive construction project from mid-April through August, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
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March 8, 2017

North Country Trail Needs Congress to act to continue development in Minnesota

The longest National Scenic Trail in the country–the North Country Trail (NCT)–runs right through Minnesota on its way from New York to North Dakota; but there’s a snag in completing it that only Congress can fix. In 1982 a route was planned that would bring the trail through 70 miles …

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North Country Trail hikers and sign
February 9, 2017

Keeping OHVs out of state parks

Efforts to add off-highway vehicles into Minnesota State Parks are popping up in unexpected places like the Taconite State Trail Plan and Lake Vermilion State Park Plan.
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Lake with evergreens in foreground
February 9, 2017

We’re partnering to re-open ski trails in four northern Minnesota state parks

After laying fallow last winter, cross-country ski trails are once again being groomed and welcoming skiers at Hayes Lakes, Lake Bronson, McCarthy Beach and Zipple Bay State Park in northern Minnesota, thanks to a partnership between Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC) and the …

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Volunteer grooming trails at Zippel Bay State Park