UMMER ULY

S 2017 (J )

Special Places

PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA NEWSLETTER

ers My ifer Jenn Big Bog State Rec Area by

Inside this issue LETTER FROM BRETT ...... PG 2 TRAIL COUNTERS GO UP ...... PG 3 LEGISLATIVE RECAP ...... PG 4-5 NOISE ...... PG 6 ST. CROIX SP PLAN ...... PG 6 MILL TOWNS TRAIL OPENS ...... PG 7 DR. DOROTHY ANDERSON ...... PG 8 FRONTENAC & FRIENDS ...... PG 11

rd 3 Annual Atop bluff Parks & Trails Council acquired for Frontenac with lakelet leading into Lake Pepin. Photo Contest! Land Project Update Enter thru Aug. 20, 2017 3 CATEGORIES Adding a new view to Frontenac State Park t the entrance to Frontenac State of this land’s natural beauty, you would Park lays 161.33 acres of land need to climb its bluŒ, which looks thatA has been a farm, a (unsanctioned) out in the opposite direction from land
ll and an explosion reenact- park’s famous Lake Pepin overlooks. ment testing grounds. Yet, its scenic From atop the newly acquired, peace- vistas and proximity to the state park ful bluŒ you will see the meandering foreshadowed other uses. In May the waters of the lakelet and creek that fate of this land was sealed as Parks & wrap around the southern end of the Trails Council purchased it to become park and ‘ow into Lake Pepin. part of the park. ’is view (photo above) is what If you’ve ever visited the park you’ve captured the attention of Parks & glimpsed this land, which is along Trails Council’s then president Mike $300 in prizes for 1st - 3rd places Highway 2, just north of the bridge Tegeder as he visited with members of See all the entries & submit your photos at crossing the Pleasant Valley Lakelet the Frontenac State Park Association www.parksandtrails.org and Creek. But to see the full extent Frontenac State Park | pg. 9

Acquiring, protecting and enhancing critical land for the public's use & benefit From the Executive Director Long-term vision in a short-term world By Brett Feldman as important state assets even though landscape when it comes to adding we don’t believe that raising fees 40 land to our parks and trails. ’anks While the report percent in a single year is a sustain- to our $5 million Samuel H. Morgan card for all things able way to keep parks operating or Land Fund we have been able to step conservation and accessible to all Minnesotans as was up when lawmakers don’t have the the environment intended when voters overwhelm- capacity and/or will to do so. In the may not have been ingly passed the Clean Water, Land past year we have acquired key lands one you want to and Legacy Amendment nine years that will one day be part of Fronte- take home to mom ago. (See page 4-5 for a full legislative nac State Park (See story on page 1), and dad this legislative session, Min- recap). Sibley State Park, and we are in the nesota’s parks and trails didn’t fare too midst of adding land to another park badly overall. Motorized recreation So, as we do whenever skies are even that we hope to tell you about soon. is still prohibited in state parks – for the slightest bit gray: we look for now, several key park and trail proj- silver linings. Here at Parks & Trails As always, parks and trails are a team ects were funded, and the state park that means we focus on how well we sport requiring us all to do our part. operating budget is su–cient enough are ful
lling our mission of acquiring, ’anks to you – our members – we that we won’t see immediate service protecting and enhancing critical land have continued our proud record of cuts or sta–ng reductions, albeit the for the public’s use and bene
t. With accomplishment in a world de
ned by Legislature cut $3 million in General this as our measure, we are proud to short-term thinking. My words to you Fund support from the previous year share our report card with you. As a for this summer and fall: Go out and and back
lled that cut with a 40 per- 63-year-old nonpro
t that has a long- enjoy all that you have helped protect cent increase in park entrance fees to term vision for Minnesota’s parks and for present and future generations ... make ends meet in 2018 and 2019. trails, we are proud that we have been until we call on you again. able to serve as a counter balance for We continue to be pleased that legis- some of the short-term thinking that lators of all stripes see parks and trails has recently dominated the political

We are a proud member of the Minnesota Environmental Fund, a workplace giv- ing option comprised of 21 environmental nonpro
ts working to protect, conserve and restore Minnesota’s environment. Visit the website to see if you can donate through your workplace or to
nd out how to add your workplace to the program. www.mnenvirofund.org

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Minnesota TRAILS A Parks & Trails Journal / MnTrails.com www.mntrails.com page 2 July 2017 Research Update Making Minnesota’s trails count, one person at a time In 2015, Parks & Trails Council Foremost, the automatic trail coun- Twin Cities Metropolitan area, and initiated a program to collect data ters, because they can count continu- Root River and Harmony-Preston in on how many people use Minne- ously for weeks at a time, will enable the southeast. We’ve selected sam- sota State Trails. ’at study was just us to calculate signi
cantly more pling locations along each trail, and the start, however, and we’re excited accurate estimates than did our 2015 we will be installing our counters at to announce we are expanding the manual counts. ’e automatic coun- each one for a week or two at a time. program in 2017 with the addition of ters will also allow us to study how automated trail counting equipment. trail use varies daily and hourly. Once We’ll move on to additional trails all the data is analyzed, it will assist in future years to ensure all of Min- We’ve purchased two sets of trail trail managers in planning and policy nesota’s state trails are accounted for. counters, and through a partnership decisions, and will guide our discus- Eventually, we’ll be able to return to with the DNR, we are installing them sions with legislators about why trails the same sites on a regular cycle to at select locations. Our trail counters are worth the investment. measure long-term trends in trail use. are portable, can diŒerentiate between pedestrians and bicyclists, and count Since we don’t have the resources (or We started collecting data in mid- trail users 24 hours a day, 7 days a the time) to count every mile of trail May and will have the counters in the week. in a single summer, we’re focusing
eld until early October. We’ll keep our eŒorts this year on the following everyone updated on our progress and ’e use of automatic trail counting state trails: Paul Bunyan in the north, let you know when to expect the
nal equipment will help us overcome Gateway and Brown’s Creek in the results. several limitations of our 2015 study.

What kind of data are we collecting? We’re using automatic trail counting equipment to collect hourly tra c counts at selected trail locations across Minnesota. Our data will tell us how many pedestrians and bicyclists use trails each hour, and will allow use to calculate estimates of monthly and annual tra c.

Total Daily Tra c on Sunday, May 14 = 1,440

Hourly Between 2pm and 3pm, our Tra c: equipment registered 183 150 bicyclists and 42 pedestrians

100

50

6:00 am 12:00 pm 6:00 pm Example data from Brown’s Creek State Trail near Manning Avenue Our trail counting equipment on the Root River State Trail near Rushford, MN.

July 2017 page 3 Legislative Session Recap Session ends with mixed bag for parks and trails ’e 2017 legislative session was a will not fully oŒset the General Fund nesota’s parks and trails rely on two back-and-forth aŒair. Gov. Dayton cut; to make ends meet, the DNR will dedicated funding accounts: the Parks vetoed the
rst round of budget bills have to use a small reserve account and Trails Legacy Fund, which voters sent to his desk, a Special Session and rely on an agency-wide operating approved in 2008, and the Environ- was required to avoid a government adjustment that Gov. Dayton secured ment & Natural Resources Trust shutdown, and as of this writing, a in last-minute negotiations. Fund (ENRTF), which is funded by legal dispute on legislature funding the State Lottery. remains unresolved. Still, a number of In the short term, the DNR says key bills were passed that impact - for the new budget should be su–cient ’e Parks and Trails Legacy Fund is better and for worse - Minnesota’s to avoid service cutbacks. ’at’s the used to take care of existing facilities, parks and trails. good news. But long-term, the new expand programming that connects budget increases the risk of de
cits. people to the outdoors, and develop Operating Budget: Entering the leg- new park and trail opportunities. islative session, P&TC advocated that Bonding Bill: Lawmakers passed a Legacy Funds, which generate ap- lawmakers use a small fraction of the large, $988 million bonding bill after proximately $45 million per year, are $1.6 billion budget surplus to increase a similar bill fell apart during the split between DNR state parks and spending on parks and trails. Unfor-
nal moments of the 2016 legisla- trails, Metropolitan Regional Parks tunately, legislators did the opposite, tive session. ’e bonding bill (HF 5) and Trails, and Greater Minnesota and cut General Fund spending on funded over $38 million park and trail regional parks and trails. ’e ENRTF state parks and trails from $27.4 mil- improvements, including $15 million bill included just over $9 million for lion per year to $24.4 million per year. for preserving DNR infrastructure, $5 park and trail projects (see map on Legislators argued the cut was neces- million for the Metropolitan Re- next page), including funding for sary to fund other state programs and gional Park system, and $18 million state park and trail land acquisition pay for a number of tax cuts. for 8 speci
c park and trail projects and development, restoration of polli- (see map on next page). While the nator habitat in state parks, continued In order to back
ll the General Fund list of funded projects is impressive, development of the Mesabi Regional cut, legislators agreed to increase the the 2017 bonding bill is actually Trail, and a new visitor center in cost of state park entrance fees. Under the smallest park and trail bonding Crane Lake for Voyageurs National the new law, permits will cost $35 appropriation since 2004, and many Park. annually or $7 daily (a 40% increase). important projects across the state P&TC believes it’s counterproductive still need crucial funding. P&TC will OHVs in State Parks: Minnesota’s to raise user fees while concurrently continue working hard with local state parks are facing external pressure cutting General Funds. We also fear a volunteers and legislators to get those from the oŒ-highway vehicle lobby 40% increase is excessive, and will dis- projects funded. to allow motorized recreation (such courage many people, especially low- as ATVs) in state parks. P&TC has er-income Minnesotans, from visiting Dedicated Funding: In addition to been working hard to counter that state parks. Further, the fee increase the budget and bonding bills, Min- threat, and we are pleased to report lawmakers didn’t alter the existing prohibition during the 2017 session. ’e threat hasn’t gone away, however, and P&TC will continue working hard to ensure state parks remain quiet, natural places.

’ank you to everyone who took the time to contact their legislators and attend committee hearings at the Steve Cook, board member of the P&TC and co-chair of our Legislative Committee, testies before the House Envi- Capitol this year. We couldn’t do our ronment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee on the importance of funding parks and trails. advocacy work without you! page 4 July 2017 The 2017 Legislative Session: Ups & Downs for Parks and Trails

PARKS AND TRAILS OPERATING BUDGET: What Changed this Legislative Session? Lawmakers passed a two-year state budget that includes funding for operating Despite a $1.6 billion state surplus, lawmakers cut general fund and maintaining Minnesota’s state parks and trails. While the budget came up spending on state parks and trails to $24.4 per year. That’s a short of what we were advocating for, the good news is that the DNR should have $3 million reduction each of the next two years. su cient resources to keep state parks and trails open and operating at current levels. The new budget cut public support for parks and trails, however, and risks General fund spending on parks and trails has always ebbed long-term budget stability. and owed, but this year was dierent. Traditionally, spending increases in good economic years and decreases in bad. But The Roller-Coaster History of the legislature’s decision this year was not based on economic General Fund Spending on State Parks and Trails (Dollars adjusted for ination) conditions. Rather, it was a deliberate choice to reduce public support for parks and trails and replace it with increased user In FY 2009, State Parks and Trails General fund spending on State Parks fees. Under the new budget, which has been signed into law, received $27.2 million general funds and Trails nally returned to 2009 for operations and maintenance. levels in FY 2017. Minnesota State Parks will cost $7 per day, or $35 per year.

In the short-term, the DNR should be able to maintain current During the Great Recession, general fund spending on State levels of operations using a mixture of existing reserves and Parks and Trails dipped to the revenue from fee increases. That’s the good news. But long- $17.7 million in FY 2013. term this is an unsustainable model.

What it will cost next time you visit a Minnesota State Park?

$ $35 per year $25 $35 $28 $7 per day $30

Free Standard price of annual state park permit in neighboring states

Voyageurs NP

Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground SP Gitchi-Gami Trail

Mesabi Regional Trail Heartland Trail Parks and Trails Capital Budget: Lawmakers didn’t pass a bonding bill in 2016 but made up for it in 2017 by Cuyuna Recreation Area passing a bonding bill that funds $38.5 million worth of park and trail projects. We’re very pleased with the projects funded in the 2017 bonding bill (see map Maplewood SP on left). But many more projects are awaiting funding, and this year’s bonding Camp Ripley Veterans Trail bill is the smallest investment parks and trails have received since the 2004 bonding cycle. Bonding will be one of our top priorities next session. William O’Brien SP Sibley SP & Historical Bonding Appropriations for parks and Trails (by two-year cycle) Glacial Lakes Trail Park and trail projects Metropolitan Regional Parks included in 2017 bonding bill $78 M Minneopa SP $61 M $64 M Mill Towns Trail $54 M $45 M $41 M $38.5 M Casey Jones Trail $33 M $36 M

Above: A sampling of the parks and trails that will receive funding from the State Bonding Bill and the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund. The Legacy Fund and local grant programs will fund many additional projects not identied above. 2000 ‘02 ‘04 ‘06 ‘08 ‘10 ‘12 ‘14 ‘16 July 2017 page 5 Park management issue Most parks in the U.S. suŒering from noise Listen!... What do you hear? Accord- are almost entirely banned within People seek out parks as refuges ing to a May 5 report in the magazine these areas, the ability to manage that from the stresses of urban life. And Science, chances are high that even if noise would seem to rest outside the while sounds often register below the you’re in a park, what you’re hearing is boundaries. conscious level of our experience, they human-created sounds—and they’re nonetheless have signi
cant impact mu¯ing out the natural ones. ’e study identi
ed most park noises on health and behavior. as coming from vehicles and the din Researchers measured noise levels at of extractive industries like logging Several National Parks have instituted 500 sites across the U.S. ’ey found and oil drilling. practices to reduce noise such as oper- that 63% of parks and other protected ating visitor shuttles to reduce tra–c, areas are signi
cantly aŒected by Other research has shown that such although those shuttles themselves human-caused noises, indicated by noises cause stress in both humans can be a signi
cant source of noise. at least a doubling of the amount of and wildlife. Birds for example rely on And in Minnesota, state parks pro- sound present. their songs to communicate vital, life- hibit motorized vehicles like ATV. sustaining messages. Normally such ’ose areas designated as Wilderness songs would be heard for 100 meters, As our understanding of the extent fared better with only 12% suŒer- but with a ten-fold increase in noise and impact of noise increases, we can ing signi
cantly from human-caused (a level present in 21% of protected begin to think more creatively about noise. However, considering that areas) that song travels a mere 10 solutions. motorized equipment and vehicles meters.

DNR planning update St. Croix State Park plan open for public review

Over the past year the DNR has • Research rare species within the been working on creating a manage- park and manage accordingly. ment plan for St. Croix State Park. • Use DNR’s Operational Order 131 ’e draft plan is accepting comments Climate Adaptation and Mitigation from the public through July 7. on Natural Resource Mgmnt. In total the plan has 65 recommen- • Add a nature play area for youth. dations covering topics from natural and cultural resources, interpretive View the full plan at www.dnr.state. services, recreational use and visi- mn.us/input/mgmtplans/parks/ tors services, park boundary and park st_croix.html operations. A few recommendations include the following ideas: Comments on the draft can be sent to • Renovate the campground to allow [email protected] or to: larger RVs and increase privacy MNDNR Parks and Trails screening between sites. St. Croix Mgmtt Plan comments • Add more trails for a variety of 500 Lafayette Road Box 39 non-motorized use. St. Paul, MN 55155-4039 • Continue native plant restoration. page 6 July 2017 Trail Ribbon Cutting Mill Towns State Trail

On June 3, a new 2-mile segment of the Mill Towns State Trail had an o–cial ribbon-cutting ceremony. Long-time trail advocate Peggy Prowe had the honor of operating the large, ceremonial scissors—de
- nitely a job requiring both hands. She has been tenaciously advocat- ing for this trail for 20 years, during which time she helped found the Friends of the Mill Towns Trail.

Dignitaries from the MnDNR, Clockwise from top: Peggy Prowe cutting the ribbon on the bridge at Lake Byllesby Regional Parks. P&TC Goodhue and Dakota Counties, members riding the trail with DNR Trail planner Steve Hennessy. Under the speech-making tent. Map Minnesota Department of Transpor- showing the two completed segments of the Mill Towns State Trail. tation and local senators all gathered to celebrate the partnerships that made this achievement possible. A pedestrian bridge, crossing over On the other end, in the city of Parks & Trails Council board presi- the Cannon River downstream of Cannon Falls, plans are underway to dent Julie Gugin was invited to speak the Lake Byllesby Dam, now con- add signage along the half mile route in recognition of our role in acquir- nects the two parks on either side of between where this trail ends at ing a key parcel. ’is successful land Lake Byllesby. Each park, operated Hannah’s Bend Park to the Cannon negotiation allowed the trail to fol- by Dakota and Goodhue Counties Valley Trail, which continues for 20 low a scenic route near the Cannon respectively, has built connector trails miles until it reaches Red Wing. River and avoided the less desirable into their parks. route along the highway.

July 2017 page 7 Supporter/Board Spotlight Dorothy Anderson

Our members’ stories are essential that accrue to people and society as a to our story. ‚e deep connection we result of those experiences. Nearly all all have with the places preserved that research had real-world applica- as parks and trails provide inspira- tions, often leading to policy changes tion to continue to advocate for these that were used to implement man- agement actions. Early in her career special places. Here is board member she worked with USAID, the lead Dr. Dorothy Anderson’s story. US Government agency working to end extreme global poverty. Moving As the eldest of 11 kids born to a to the US Forest Service, she was a rocket scientist, Dr. Dorothy Ander- social science researcher for over a son was shaped by science, camping decade before becoming a professor at and moving. Science was instilled by the University of Minnesota—Twin her parents as the way to understand Cities. the world. Camping was what they Dorothy Anderson did because it was the most aŒordable As a professor she continued to focus option for such a large family--but on applied research. She says nearly also because they loved nature. And all her research was spurred by land “Parks & Trails Council is small moving from Oklahoma to Kansas managers coming to her to address but eŒective,” says Anderson. “I feel and then to Alabama during the civil an issue they were facing in the
eld. good to be a part of this organiza- rights movement was eye-opening for Anderson retired in 2015 having tion that is making a diŒerence for the young Anderson.
nished her career at North Carolina people across Minnesota.” Ensuring State University where she headed She noticed what she would later that land is protected for parks and the department of Parks, Recreation come to understand as racialized trails is vital work that people seem and Tourism Management for seven landscapes. It was particularly notice- to intuitively know, because they so years. able to her because each weekend often seek it out. But Anderson notes that people often stop short of asking she’d spend time in two very diŒerent Today, she brings her deep knowledge what their role is in helping it to exist. settings: She attended a predominate- to bear on Parks & Trails Council’s “Parks & Trails Council helps people ly African-American church, and her board discussions. “Having her wealth understand their role.” family took weekly hikes in a forest of knowledge is a real asset, especially where she never saw African-Ameri- as P&TC delves deeper into re- As someone who has hiked the cans. “I remember asking my parents search,” says Brett Feldman, P&TC’s intricate spiderweb of trails that exist why that was and them explaining executive director. what racism was.” Drawn to further in Italy, Anderson likes to envision a future Minnesota with interconnected understand that question, she would She learned of P&TC’s work over the parks and trails and communities. ’e go on to study geography, anthropol- years, and always supported the mis- system-thinking helps to blend the ogy and then land-use planning. “I sion. She joined the board in 2014, idea of recreation with transportation really wanted to help plan landscapes shortly before returning to Minnesota and daily living. “But it takes time to that bene
tted all of us.” from North Carolina. She’s excited to plan a system.” She is encouraged by contribute to the organization in her the long-term vision Parks & Trails And as a professional she did that. retirement years, in between caring Council embraces. Most of Anderson’s research was in for grandchildren with her partner. understanding people’s experiences in protected areas and the bene
ts

page 8 July 2017 Frontenac continued from page 1 in 2015 (see more about this Friends upland hardwood forest all along the Group on page 11). It was at that Mississippi River (of which Lake Pe- time that we learned of the owner’s pin is an enlargement). ’is addition intent to sell the land. Preserving this will further secure the park’s status vista as part of the park experience as a birdwatchers destination with was paramount. both increased acreage and diversity of habitat. ’is relatively small parcel We began discussions right away, includes bluŒs, oak savanna, prairie knowing that time was of the essence and rich creek shoreline. because if the landowner sold to a private entity it could possibly be lost Parks & Trails Council will hold the to the park forever. One element in land in trust for the park. Meanwhile, our favor was that despite its previous we will work with the park managers use as a farm, the land has rather low to ensure a seamless transition. ’e quality soil and is very hilly. ’ese are previous landowner already began the good qualities for a park but not so process of restoring the oak savanna Map of Frontenac showing the land P&TC good for other uses. by burning the grasses which sti‘es acquired for the park in green (top). Former park the invasive plants while simultane- manager and member of the Frontenac Park Frontenac is already known as one ously revitalizing native plants. We Association walks to overlook. of the best places in the country for plan to continue this important birdwatching thanks to the diversity restoration. of blu¯and, prairie, ‘oodplain and

July 2017 page 9 Frontenac State Park StateFrontenac Park Highlight State Park

’ere are eight places along the is a reminder of the rich history of Mighty Mississippi where a Min- Dakota life that prevailed for many nesota State Park rests. Each park years here. Once down below you’ll showcasing the river’s changing need to climb back up the bluŒ and character, from trickling headwaters it can be a test of the average person’s to expansive river. ’ere is one place endurance. where the Mississippi dramatically changes form and becomes a lake Down from the bluŒ the park known as Pepin; this is where you’ll preserves a peaceful prairie that is
nd Frontenac State Park. stocked with well-tended bluebird houses. In summer visitors can walk Lake Pepin has long drawn people the mowed trail that leads through Andrew Oftedal Andrew not only for its expansive waters this prairie to the Pleasant Valley (where water skiing was invented) Lakelet. Near the lakelet is a wild- but also the dramatic bluŒs along its life observation blind where visitors shore. Frontenac has a particularly can sit and watch birds and other good bluŒ for viewing Lake Pepin wildlife. ’e park is renowned for its and on summer days, with the lake birdwatching opportunities. winds breezing across the grassy bluŒ, many visitors enjoy picnics ’e park surrounds the small, historic here. community of Old Frontenac, which sprung up around Minnesota’s
rst Manda Baldwin Andrew Oftedal Andrew From atop this bluŒ, popular hik- summer resort, St. Hubert’s Lodge ing trails quickly descend into the built in 1856 in the French architec- mossy forest below through a series tural tradition. It quickly became a of wooden stairs and switchbacks. popular tourist destination, drawing Near the bottom, the trail is hemmed the leisure class from the southern in by sheer limestone walls, which U.S. who traveled by steamboat look- were quarried before the park was ing for cooler summer weather. established. A lesser known part of the park is Further on is a unique rock forma- around the other side of Old Fron- tion named In Yan Teopa, coming tenac. Here a short trail leads from from the Dakota language and mean- Hwy. 61 to a sandy beach with a ing “rock with opening.” ’is name point that juts into Lake Pepin. Scott Costello Scott page 10 July 2017 Friends Group Partners Friends Groups that are members of P&TC

Border Route Trail Association, Inc. Cedar Lake Park Association Central Lakes Trail Association Faribault Flyers Bike & Ski Club Freeborn County Trail Association Friends of Anderson Park Friends of Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Meet the Friends Group Friends of Cannon Valley Trail Friends of Casey Jones Trail Frontenac State Park Association Friends of Father Hennepin State Park Friends Group Started circa Friends of Fort Ridgely 1956 to advocate for the park’s establishment, which happened in Friends of Glacial Lakes State Park 1957. Friends of Itasca State Park

Mission is to preserve, protect Friends of Jackson County Trails and enhance Frontenac State Park Friends of Lake Bronson State Park and its surroundings. Friends of Lake Maria State Park Friends of Luce Line West Friends of Maplewood State Park Most likely Frontenac State Park wouldn’t exist had it not been for this Friends of Mill Towns State Trail Association. ’e group was formed by in‘uential local citizens who rallied around the idea that a state park would be a boon to the local Friends of Nerstrand Big Woods economy. To kickstart the eŒort, in the 1950s members bought land with Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails the intent of creating the park; and lo and behold it worked. Friends of Whitewater State Park Today the Association continues to support the park. While membership Friends of Wild River State Park has ebbed and ‘owed through the years, the current roster of about 20 Friends of Zippel Bay State Park folks are a continual presence in the park. Frontenac State Park Association Last year the group worked hand-in-hand with the assistant manager to Gateway-Brown’s Creek Trail Association plan and deliver monthly educational programs. ’ey included a talk by arctic explorer Will Steger, a family festival with local artists, prairie seed Gitchi Gami Trail Association collections and a candlelight ski/hike event that saw 300 people attend Glacial Ridge Trail Association last January. “One volunteer spent the whole month of December making Glendalough Park Partners ice candles for the event,” said Kiki Sonnen, the Association’s secretary. “Another year we had volunteers out relighting the candles all night Lake Louise State Park Association because it was so windy,” she laughs. MN Nordic Ski Association But with recent changes in park staŒ and declining volunteers Sonnen North Star Ski Touring Club expects the Association to support fewer events. ’e new direction is Northstar Trail Travelers yet to be determined, but Sonnen says the group is energized by Parks Prairie Visions & Trails Council’s recent acquisition for the park and expects renewed momentum for the group’s mission. Sibley State Park Improvement Association Southeast MN Assoc. of Regional Trails (SMART)

July 2017 page 11 B¥ ¦ D­€§

Parks & Trails Council of MN Non-Pro
t Org Executive Committee U.S. Postage Julie Gugin, President 275 E. 4th St., Suite #250 PAID Bob Bierscheid, Co-Vice President St. Paul, MN 55101-1626 Twin Cities, MN Permit #4936 Tom Stoa, Co-Vice President (651) 726-2457 or (800) 944-0707 Dorothy Anderson, Secretary www.parksandtrails.org Robert O. Erickson, Treasurer Anne Flueckiger Bruce Johnson Ed Murphy Directors Richard “Dick” Brainerd Steve Cook Your membership anniversary is Jane Harper XX/XX Paul Karazija Kellie Lowman Emily Nesvold Maureen Reed Honorary Directors Rollis Bishop Name Sen. David Durenberger Address ’omas T. Dwight Martin Kellogg City, State Zip David Minge Mike Prichard Peter Seed

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Brett Feldman Executive Director Lisa Filter External Relations Director Becky Hampton O—ce Coordinator Ann Lenczewski Government Relations Consultant of Lockridge Grindal Nauen www.parksandtrails.org Ian Marsh Government Relations Consultant of Lockridge Grindal Nauen facebook.com/parksandtrails Andrew Oftedal Research & Policy Specialist Barb Simonson Accountant Consultant Special Places is Steve Young published three times a year by the Land Acquisition Consultant Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota Lisa Filter, editor