ARTICLE AD BOX
A key state commission is recommending that the Minnesota legislature spend more than $11 million next year on projects that would improve a dozen parks and trails around the state.
The recommendation from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) earmarks funding for park and trail projects around the state, outside of the seven-county metro area.
The grant money comes from the voter-approved Legacy Amendment, which distributes sales tax revenue to arts and culture, outdoor recreation, clean water and similar needs around the state.
The portion of Legacy Amendment funding that goes to parks and trails is divvied up among the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Council’s Regional Parks Department, and the Greater Minnesota Regional PC, which distributes money to projects across greater Minnesota.
This year’s projects that the GMRPTC recommends for grants include:
$1.3 million towards construction of a skills development area and other improvements at the Lester Park trailhead of the Duluth Traverse, a 102-mile mountain bike trail that follows the ridge line across the city. There’s also $578,000 for a mountain bike skills area and jump park at Rochester’s Gamehaven Park.
$600,000 for improvements to the Mille Lacs County Soo Line Trail; $477,000 to reconstruct a section of the Chisago County Swedish Immigrant Trail; and $1.1 million to build an accessible trail and a fishing platform along the Roseau River Water Trail, and make other improvements to Roseau Rapids Park and Roseau City Park.
$902,000 to expand a campground at Hole in the Mountain Park in Lincoln County; $822,000 to purchase 33 acres of land next to the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area for a future campground.
$1.1 million for a new bathhouse at the Grand Marais Recreation Area along Lake Superior.
$1.3 million to complete a unique, two-sided amphitheater at Robbins Island Regional Park in Willmar.
And more than $3 million in combined funding for new pedestrian bridges at Olmsted County Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo and Lac qui Parle County Park, and a new parking lot, trails and amphitheater at Otter Tail County Phelps Mill County Park.
“Legacy Funding is an amazing and far-reaching gift that Minnesotans chose to make happen by voting to tax themselves,” said GMRPTC Chair Rick Anderson. “Without Legacy dollars, many of these projects simply would not happen or would take many years before coming to fruition.”
The funds are dedicated to parks and trails of regional or statewide significance.
“The parks and trails commission definitely recognized our public access to Lake Superior being unique, being something you don't often find in other campgrounds,” said Grand Marais parks director Dave Tersteeg about the funding for the Grand Marais Recreation Area. He said the park attracts visitors from the Twin Cities and around the country.
The funding still requires approval from the state legislature.
MPR receives arts and culture grants from the Legacy Amendment, but that funding was cut back significantly this year.
English (US) ·