Oak savanna restoration project tree planting on June 2, 2018
March 15, 2019

P&TC Issues Grants to Seven Friends Groups to Complete Habitat Restoration Projects

Seven volunteer-led friends groups will implement habitat restoration projects at state parks this year, with support from the Minnesota DNR and funds issued by Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC). The projects include planting trees, protecting young saplings, and diversifying tree canopy. Each project will include volunteer opportunities for community members at events throughout the year.

P&TC initiated this statewide grant program in 2018, which seeks to restore habitat in state parks. This grant program was made possible by the Henry S. Crosby Foundation, which issued grant money to P&TC to advance protection of state parks through land acquisition and habitat restoration projects.

P&TC worked with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to identify potential projects and overlap them with active friends groups. These projects compliment long-term, natural resource management goals of the parks and fit into the wide variety of activities of friends groups. Friends groups support state parks in various ways, from raising money and promotion, to advocacy and programming.

2019 Grant Recipients

Friends of Blue Mounds State Park

$3,288

Hazard tree removal with tree planting to maintain canopy for shade and biodiversity.

Friends of Minneopa State Park

$3,488

Hazard tree removal with tree planting to maintain canopy for shade and biodiversity.

Friends of Whitewater State Park

$4,800

MN Map pinpointing Whitewater State Park

Planting and protecting trees to promote biodiversity, increase shade, and maintain canopy.

Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park

$4,416

Install a deer exclosure structure to protect young pine trees from deer browse.

Friends of Tettegouche State Park

$450

Map showing location of Tettegouche state park

Plant hundreds of trees (white pine, spruce, red cedar) to replenish a mixed forest area.

Friends of Zippel Bay State Park

$4,922

Map pinpointing where Zippel Bay State Park is

Install a deer exclosure structure to protect young pine trees from deer browse.

Sibley State Park Improvement Association

$4,000

Map of Mn with star at Sibley State Park

Remove invasive species and replace with native shrubs and trees.

Seven volunteer-led friends groups will implement habitat restoration projects at state parks this year, with support from the Minnesota DNR and funds issued by Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC). The projects include planting trees, protecting young saplings, and diversifying tree canopy.
See 2018 Grant Recipients

About Ashley Pethan

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