All News

October 29, 2020

Bonding bill passes, key parks and trails projects funded

Minnesota's Legislative Session was unprecedented, which is to say, it fit perfectly into the year 2020. For most of the year, the much anticipated bonding bill was stalled. It didn't get passed in regular session (Feb - May), nor in the June, July, August, or September special sessions. Then, finally, in October, during the fifth special session, the House and Senate passed a massive, $1.9 billion bonding bill, which was signed by Gov. Walz on Oct. 22. The bill funds a wide variety of items from roads, affordable housing, and college buildings to parks and trails projects.

October 27, 2020

Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee seeks applicants

From MnDNR The coordinating partners of the Parks and Trails Legacy Plan, which include the Metropolitan Council, the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, are seeking applicants to serve on the Parks and Trails Legacy Advisory Committee. The committee champions the 25-year …

Two women with three children all on bicycles

October 14, 2020

Trail building update: Swedish Immigrant Trail connects into Interstate State Park

On a perfect fall day on October 10, a small group of people gathered for a ribbon-cutting for the newest half-mile segment of the Swedish Immigrant Trail. This extension is small in length, but big in impact as it connects into Interstate State Park with giant maple trees and dramatic ravines.

October 14, 2020

Wildlife Hospital

Details Hear from Tami Vogel, the Communication's Director for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville. This webinar was sponsored by Whitewater State Park and Friends of Whitewater. More Webinar Recordings

October 12, 2020

Our ResearchBike pedals in key data for Saint Cloud trails

Discerning an objective rating for a trail condition can be a daunting project—something Parks & Trails Council (P&TC) learned when we first undertook the task for our 2017 State of the Trails Report.

October 7, 2020

Membership Tracking Template

Details This virtual training shows how to use the membership data tracking template. Download the Excel template and walk through how to enter, evaluate, and export data. More Webinar Recordings

October 6, 2020

Lake 21 now fully encompassed within Sibley State Park

Lake 21 is serene, wilderness-like place whose fate is now secured to remain that way. On October 5, Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC) sold land to the MnDNR that brings the entire shoreline of this lake under the management of Sibley State Park.

Five adults working with clippers and gloves near rock mound

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.

September 22, 2020

Youth Field Trips

Details Hear from four different friends groups about their experiences with coordinating youth field trips at parks and trails. More Webinar Recordings

September 16, 2020

Citizen Science

Details Hear from Andrea Laurek Strauss with UofM Extension about what citizen science is, why it's important, and how you can become a citizen scientist! Organized by Whitewater State Park and Friends of Whitewater State Park More Webinar Recordings

August 26, 2020

Nature Play Areas

Details Learn about Nature Play Areas from Stacy Smith with DNR Parks and Trails. Hear from Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park about their experience, helping to plan, design, and construct a nature play area at their park. More Webinar Recordings

Rock strewn across lake at the headewaters

August 24, 2020

Shoreline restoration project planned for Mississippi Headwaters in Itasca State Park

The work will restore the original river channel width and stabilize the streambank at the headwaters site. The project is designed to minimize closure time to accommodate park visitors. Work will begin early October after the peak tourism season. Access to the site will be restricted for a five-day period.

July 28, 2020

Stalled bonding bills leaves key projects unlikely this year

The Minnesota Legislature wrapped up their second special session on July 21 without passing a much anticipated public construction package, which would have funded numerous park and trail projects. Now, all hope rests on a third special session, which Gov. Walz will likely call in August to extend his peacetime emergency powers.