News – Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

Three Friends Groups receive funding for habitat restoration in 2024

Three Friends Groups have received funding for habitat restoration in 2024. These projects will address a variety of habitat-related issues at state and regional parks, including the restoration of bird habitat around a wildlife blind, creative erosion control measures at a high-traffic picnic area, and ...

Meet the Friends of Munger South

Dave Auchter saw a problem that he couldn’t afford to ignore. A longtime user of the historic Willard Munger State Trail, he had had front-row seats to the slow degradation of the trail’s asphalt surface. A popular thoroughfare for hikers and bikers, the trail had ...

DNR Update: What’s going on with the MOU?

An update from Arielle Courtney, DNR Greetings, friends! Thank you as always for your dedication and service to our state parks and trails. While this winter has been abnormal, I know many of you worked hard with our staff to put on a variety of ...

Webinar: Friends Groups & Volunteer Appreciation Events

Details Hear from Friends Group leaders Jon Slock (Gateway Brown's Creek Trail Association) and Tony Manzara (Friends of Sunfish Lake Park) about holding successful volunteer appreciation events. More Webinar Recordings

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

October 25, 2023

Webinar: Habitat Restoration Panel

Details Friends Group leaders Steve Dietz (Frontenac) and Beth Hayden (Gateway), with long-distance assistance from Gitchi-Gami Trail Association's Michelle Pierson, provide advice to prospective Friends Group applicants for P&TC's 2024 grant round. More Webinar Recordings

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …