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Agencies report progress on 25‑year parks and trails legacy plan; partners highlight land acquisition, accessibility and outreach
Summary
Metropolitan Council, DNR and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission updated the Legacy Finance Committee on the 25‑year parks and trails plan, reporting 69 million regional visits in 2023, formula distribution of legacy dollars in metro and coordinated efforts on land acquisition and accessibility.
Representatives from the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails Division, and the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission gave a joint update on implementation of the 25‑year Parks and Trails Legacy Plan.
Lisa Varajas, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Council’s Community Development Division, said the Metropolitan Regional Parks and Trails System recorded more than 69,000,000 visits in 2023 and protects over 65,000 acres across regional parks, park reserves, special recreation features and trails. She described the statutory formula that distributes metropolitan legacy funds—90% to the 10 regional parks implementing agencies (based on acreage, local and nonlocal users and operating costs) and 10% for land acquisition, typically with local cost share (25% agency, 30% council, 45% legacy funds for acquisitions).
Laura Preuss of the DNR highlighted programs supported by legacy funding including I Can skill‑building programs (I Can Camp, I Can Mountain Bike, I Can Paddle), the library pass pilot that allows seven‑day state park passes through libraries, junior ranger naturalist programs and upgrades to older facilities such as accessibility improvements and the Split Rock Lighthouse campground expansion. Preuss noted much of the state park infrastructure is 60–90 years old and legacy funds help modernize and maintain those assets.
Renee Mattson of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission described designation categories, grant programs for small communities, equipment loan and free equipment‑use days, and an accessibility initiative led by a recently retained ADA and accessibility expert who will offer seminars to park partners. The partners said they continue public engagement, research, and pilot projects—such as “parks artists in residence”—to implement the plan.
A committee member asked about the February forecast reductions to legacy fund availability; committee staff outlined downward adjustments to legacy fund forecasts and noted a requirement to maintain a 5% fund balance. The agencies provided a written report, and no committee action was taken.
