People Saving Special Places
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People Saving Special Places Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota Annual Report 2006 Dear Friends innesotans treasure our parks and trails because they give us Maccess to the state’s most outstanding natural, cultural and scenic resources. They are special places where we recreate, interact with nature and enjoy peaceful solitude. Since 1954, the Parks & Trails Council has protected, enhanced and expanded these great outdoor places for generations upon generations of people to enjoy. On the pages of this annual report you will find evidence that the Parks & Trails Council continues to excel in fulfilling our mission. You will also find examples of how we have helped make Minnesota’s park and trail systems the envy of the nation. Clearly, we could not do the important work we do without the generous support of our members and donors, and for that we thank each and every one of you who has made contributions to our wonderful organization. Always determined and forward thinking, the Parks & Trails Council headed into the 2006 legislative session armed with a comprehensive agenda that helped secure nearly $25 million for state park and trail acquisition, development and rehabilitation. The impact of these investments can be felt in nearly every corner of the state. Grant Merritt Our efforts at the Capitol were successful because of the strong bonds we’ve formed with more than 100 grassroots citizen groups around the state. We continued to cultivate these partnerships in 2006 by hosting events such as our biennial conference, our annual Day on the Hill and the first-ever North Shore Parks and Trails Leadership Summit with workshops designed to both energize and educate parks and trails advocates about the important issues of the day. Obviously, the Parks & Trails Council continues to serve the public good by acquiring critical land for incorporation into our state’s park and trail systems. And while all of our land deals are important, we are especially proud to have secured the final riverfront link that now connects Crow Wing State Park to the 110-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail. That historic land deal culminated nearly five years of work in which we helped add 3.13 miles of scenic Mississippi River shoreline and 552 acres to Crow Wing State Park. Parks and trails are part of what makes Minnesota great. With your Dorian Grilley help, we promise we will continue our work to preserve Minnesota’s Great Outdoor legacy by making necessary and smart investments in these special places for current and future generations. Sincerely, Grant Merritt, President Dorian Grilley, Executive Director Government and Community Relations trails supporters, legislators listened ability to effectively to our members provide details of communicate the needs of the state’s park and trail system and its the comprehensive trail package. users Parks and trails advocates mobilized to legislators and government officials has made it the preeminent again in St. Paul later in the 2006 voice for parks and trails throughout Minnesota and at the Capi- session as a part of our annual Parks & Trails Day on the Hill to meet with tol. Always legislators and to advance the cause determined and forward thinking, the Parks & Trails Council heads for making necessary and smart investments in our prized systems of into each legislative session armed with a comprehensive agenda parks and trails, which are so seeking necessary and smart investments in our park and trail essential to our economy, our way of systems. Whether it is the high-profile purchase and preservation life and the health of our citizens. of aesthetic, ecological and cultural places such as Gold Rock Point Citizens working together The Parks & Trails Council’s Action Team is a vital enterprise that arms Legislative success in 2006 individuals and friends groups with In 2006, the Parks & Trails Council worked with park and trail groups from the tools they need to join together throughout Minnesota to convince the Legislature to support a comprehensive to take collective action on behalf of package of park and trail investments that will benefit every corner of the Minnesota’s parks and trails. Action state. The package’s top priorities were to secure bonding appropriations for Team members get the inside scoop state park and trail acquisition, development and rehabilitation and funding on what is happening at the Capitol for an initiative to build 75 new camper cabins in our state parks. By the through monthly newsletters and end of the session, park and trail supporters were jubilant about securing electronic updates and alerts. Mem- $25 million for park and trail projects, including funding for 14 different bers help influence public policy state trail projects. The Legislature showed a great commitment and a by sending letters to the editor and growing understanding of the Parks & Trails Council’s vision of connecting communicating key messages to our state parks and trails to local communities. their legislators. In 2006, Parks & Trails implemented a new e-mail Parks and Trails for Future Generations conference action network that effectively con- nects members with their legislators. Parks and trails supporters from throughout the state descended upon Cragun’s Resort and Hotel on Gull Lake near Brainerd on March 3-4 to attend the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota’s Parks and Trails for Future Generations conference. In addition to several Day on the Hill participants Bob Nesheim (left) and interactive workshops designed to energize and educate parks Paula Pettit spoke with Sen. Thomas Bakk (DFL-Cook). and trails activists, the conference featured critically acclaimed generations expert and best-selling author David Stillman and nationally renowned healthy living authority Dr. Michael O’Donnell, founder and editor of the American Journal of Health Promotion. 2006 Trails Initiative and Day on the Hill Trail advocates from across the state enjoyed the rare oppor- tunity to present our 2006 State Trails Initiative to both the House and Senate Environment and Natural Resources Finance committees on the same day! In a room filled with 3 Land Acquisition Parks & Trails Council works to acquire, protect and enhance land Great River Bluffs State Park In February, we sold 40 acres to the that is critical to our state’s park and recreational trail systems so DNR that were acquired in June 2004. Portions of the parcel are that Minnesota’s aesthetic, ecological and cultural character can adjacent to the park’s entrance road be preserved for the public’s enjoyment now and in the future. and contact station. The part near the road will be restored to bluff top Since 1954, we have been instrumental in adding more than prairie. The other part of the parcel 8,700 acres valued at more than $11.75 million to key areas with- is a wooded hillside. in the state’s vast network of parks and trails. Charles H. Lindbergh State Park Much of 2006 was spent correcting a legal description and removing a Land acquisitions in 2006 Gateway State Trail deed restriction on the 92 acres Three easements for extending the Cascade River State Park purchased in 2003 in preparation for Gateway State Trail to Marine and We completed appraisals of two sale to the DNR. Known as the Scandia were appraised, and parcels but were unable to negotiate Little Elk Heritage Preserve, this negotiations were progressing on purchase agreements. However, at parcel contains about three-quarters two acquisitions at year end. An year end the landowner had still not of a mile of frontage on the appraisal was also completed for the sold either parcel – leaving Parks & Mississippi and Little Elk rivers and right of way currently used by the Trails in the position to purchase many significant archaeological Minnesota Zephyr Dinner Train. If them at a price that can be supported resources including one on the purchased, this would provide a by a professional appraisal. National Register of Historic Places. connection from the Gateway State Trail near state Highway 96 to the Crow Wing State Park Mille Lacs Kathio State Park right of way through downtown In December, the Parks & Trails In May, the Parks & Trails Council Stillwater recently purchased by the Council acquired the final was notified of a small in-holding for city. Negotiations were ongoing at Mississippi River shoreline link that sale on Shakopee Lake. The property year end. connects Crow Wing State Park to was appraised in June and a deal was the 110-mile Paul Bunyan State closed in July. This parcel was sold to George Crosby-Manitou State Park Trail. The historic 28-acre land deal the state at cost in December. In June, we sold the DNR 420 of culminated nearly five years of work 1,640 acres originally acquired in a in which we helped add 3.13 miles Nerstrand Big Woods State Park 2005 land exchange. The DNR will of Mississippi River shoreline and An appraisal was completed for a purchase an additional 680 acres in 552 acres to Crow Wing State Park. 112-acre parcel, and negotiations the future. This land in the heart of extended throughout the year and on the park includes portions of Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park into 2007. Horseshoe Ridge with spectacular In July, we sold the DNR 40 acres views of Lake Superior. of land we acquired in January 2002. Located at the top of the Canfield Creek watershed, this key parcel will expand the park’s trail system. The Parks & Trails Council also sold 21 Executive Director Dorian acres near Mystery Cave to the Grilley conducted a DNR in February. As part of that television news interview transaction we donated $33,000 in at Crow Wing State Park value to the state.