Greater Parks & Trails Connections Monthly Newsletter April 2017

GMPT priorities remain in play at the Legislature Important Dates With less than four weeks until the Minnesota • Sen. David Tomassoni (DFL- Legislature adjourns, conference committees Chisholm): sen.david.tomassoni@ GMPT Board Meeting are hard at work trying to resolve differences senate.mn, 651-296-8017 Friday, May 19 between the Senate and House versions of the 1 p.m. various bills. To email all 10 conference committee members Initiative Foundation at once, click here (this link should work for 405 First St. SE Thanks to the efforts of our members and most email systems). Little Falls, MN support from senators Carrie Ruud and Bill Ingebrigsten, the Senate omnibus environment Here are some points to convey: GMPT Board Meeting finance bill includes $1 million ($500,000 • Ask them to support $1 million Wednesday, June 21 each, spread over two years) for the Outdoor ($500,000 each) in funding for the 1 p.m. Recreation Grant Program and the Local Trails Outdoor Recreation Grant Program and Stearns County Parks Dept. Connection Program. However, the House bill Local Trails Connection Program in 1802 County Road 137 does not include this funding. the final environmental bill. This is the Waite Park, MN amount included in the Senate’s bill. We have received word that the conference • These grant programs provide matching committees are supposed to wrap up their funds to cities and counties across work on Monday, which means we need your the state that aren’t covered by Legacy Board of Directors help now! Please email or call the conference funding. It is the only state grant 2017 committee members today or over the funding available for many Greater weekend and ask them to include the Senate’s Minnesota projects. Chair - Marcia Larson appropriation for these grant programs in the • Funding for these programs is running [email protected] environment finance bill. low and demand is high. • [Provide specific examples of how Vice Chair - Ted Suss Conference Committee members are: these programs have benefited or could [email protected] • Rep. (R-Roseau): rep.dan. benefit your community] [email protected], 888-727-0979 Secretary/Communications - Brad Harrington • Rep. (R-Nisswa): rep. We also encourage you to contact Sen. Ruud [email protected] [email protected], 651-296- and Sen. Ingebrigsten to thank them for their 4333 support and for including this provision in the Treasurer - Tom Salkowski • Rep. (R-Ghent): rep. Senate bill. [email protected] [email protected], 888-234- 1242 With respect to the Legacy bill, the conference Past Chair - Laird Mork [email protected] • Rep. Mark Uglem (R-Champlin): rep. committee met for the first time this week. The [email protected], 651-296-5513 GMPT and the Greater Minnesota Regional District 1 - Bob Manzoline • Rep. (DFL-International Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) are [email protected] Falls): [email protected], 651- happy with the shape the bill is in. It preserves 296-2190 the 40/40/20 split and provides funding for the District 2 - Joe Amundson [email protected] • Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria): GMRPTC. It does not include any earmarks [email protected], 651- nor does it contain any of the negative policy District 3 - Dan Coughlin 297-8063 language we were concerned about. We [email protected] • Sen. Carrie Ruud (R-Breezy Point): sen. will continue to monitor the bill as it moves [email protected], 651-296-4913 through the committee to ensure that there are District 4 - Peter Theismann • Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake): no worrisome changes. [email protected] [email protected], 651- District 5 - Jacqueline Knips 296-3826 If you have any questions regarding legislative • Sen. Andrew Mathews (R-Milaca): sen. activity, please contact GMPT lobbyist District 6 - Mike Nigbur [email protected], 651-296- Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-hood. [email protected] 8075 com.

See next page for more! GMPT has gone social! The GMPT is now on social media! doing by posting special events and highlighting Funding availble for parks and projects in Greater Minnesota. environmental projects With addition of Facebook and Twitter (find us @GreaterMNPT), GMPT has the ability For information on how to get your event, park The Legislative-Citizen Commission to connect with its members, legislators and or project on our Facebook page or Twitter on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) citizens of Greater Minnesota in a direct way. account, contact Brad Harrington at bradley. has issued its Request for Proposal [email protected]. (RFP) for funding from Minnesota’s Through the use of these two platforms we will Environment & Natural Resources provide updates on legislative matters, pertinent Be sure to “Like” us on Facebook and “Follow” Trust Fund beginning July 1, parks and recreation industry information, and a us on Twitter! 2018. Approximately $50 million place to let people know what our members are is expected to be available for projects that provide ecological and other public benefits. GMRPTC update The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and haven’t been able to attend the other workshops, For additional information about Trails Commission (GMRPTC) has been please join District 4 for this last opportunity the LCCMR’s proposal and holding master planning workshops across the for an in-person learning experience focusing funding process, please visit state. These workshops were held in conjunction on Unit Master Plan creation and the use of the lccmr.leg.mn. Proposals are due with District Planning Committee meetings and online Master Planning portal, as well as the May 15, 2017. have been well attended. basics about the GMRPTC application process. Contact [email protected] for One final Master Plan Workshop remains, on more information on how to attend. Wednesday, May 3 at 3 p.m. in the Wright County Park and Recreation Offices in Buffalo. If you Visit GMPT online at Thank you to our members! greatermnparks andtrails.org. Greater MN Parks & Trails is now more than 90 members strong!

Featured Park or Trail of the Month: Carey Lake Park

Carey Lake Park, located in Hibbing, is a 1,100 acre family- friendly park that attracts vsitors in all seasons.

In the warmer months, visitors can enjoy a swimming beach with lifeguard, changing rooms/restrooms, picnic pavilion and picnic areas with grills, and a fishing pier.

In the winter, 25 kilometers of combination, classical-only and skate-only Nordic trails are open, plus two miles of snowshoe/biking/hiking trail. Ice fishing is popular on the lake as well.

The park also offers many all-season trails for non-motorized activities. It is connected to the city of Hibbing by a 4.25- mile bike trail that runs from Hibbing Community College into the park. Hibbing’s 1,100-acre Carey Lake Park offers plenty of For more information on Carey Lake Park, visit its Explore recreational opportunities for fun year-round. Photo Minnesota webpage or the City of Hibbing’s Parks & Fields provided by Beth Pierce. webpage.

Newsletter design by Flaherty & Hood, P.A. for Greater Minnesota Parks & Trails, 2017.