Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota 2012 Bonding Priorities Investing in Parks and Trails for Our Health, Economy and Future innesota’s parks and of Main Street businesses across the The Parks & Trails Council sought trails are part of what state. Tourism is comparable to agri- input from dozens of organizations, M culture in its contributions to the gross communities and citizens across Min- we do and who we are. state product. nesota to put together bonding initia- Our parks and trails play an We have one of the oldest and most tives that are representative of the needs important role in helping us become respected park and trail systems in the across the state, in all geographical areas. and stay healthy; they are also a major nation because of the investment made The 2012 Bonding Initiative was generator of economic activity, all by previous legislatures. But in times developed with four key goals: year long. A majority of us take part of stress on public funding of all kinds, • To achieve connectivity of in outdoor recreation, from walking as we have now, there is a risk that we Minnesota’s trails, habitat and parks to mountain biking to camping with won’t carry on that legacy. network—including interconnections the family to hunting and fishing. The Parks & Trails Council of and links to cities, towns, workplaces, Communities in every part of the state Minnesota, as part of its mission, schools and colleges. depend on the money that visitors advocates for the acquisition, develop- • To expand collaboration across spend while enjoying parks and trails. ment and operation of parks and trails governments and non-profit groups. Explore Minnesota research shows throughout the state. This set of more that Minnesotans and visitors make than $84 million in bonding priorities • To make it easier for communities to our state a destination because of our for the 2012 Minnesota Legislature help acquire, develop and maintain natural scenery, historic sites and parks builds on the goals for parks and trails state trails partnering with the DNR. and trails. Travel and tourism creates presented to the Legislature in the last • To accelerate land acquisition and jobs and generates sales in virtually few years; many of the projects listed development of trails and parks when every county of the state. Travelers have gotten state funding in the past. land becomes available from willing in Minnesota spend more than $33 This year’s bonding should continue sellers. million a day and support a variety the investments already made. State Park Land critical parcels of land within, and adjacent to, boundaries of parks Acquisition Priorities remain in private ownership. Funding is needed to assure the he Parks & Trails Council acquisition of these properties as they Tsupports investing $5 mil- become available for sale. If these lion in state park acquisition lands are sold and developed privately, they are lost to the system. Private funding from the 2012 bonding ownership of in-holdings often means bill for land acquisition, including fragmenting the park resources, which 10 acres at Crow Wing State Park. can lead to increased management costs and disruption to visitors. The State Park Land Acquisition A commitment to providing program enables the Department of ongoing bonding funding for state Natural Resources to purchase lands park acquisition is a wise investment within planned and legislatively au- in a park system that is under con- thorized state park boundaries as they stant threat from both population and become available from willing sellers. development pressures. With land An ongoing land acquisition program values at historic lows in many parts protects the integrity of our state park of the state, now is the time to make resources from incompatible uses such cludes 66 state parks, 7 state recreation these investments. as housing developments. areas and 8 waysides and encompasses Minnesota’s state park system in- more than 240,000 acres of land. Yet (continued on next page) 275 East Fourth Street, Suite #250, St. Paul, MN 55101 • (651) 726-2457 • www.parksandtrails.org Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota 2012 Bonding Priorities (State Park Land, continued) property would prevent forest frag- many artifacts and that has been mentation and would allow for con- determined to be National Register Crow Wing State Park—10 acres sistent natural resource management Quality by state archeologists. When a small peninsula at the for wildlife species that are declining confluence of the Mississippi and worldwide. The second 80-acre prop- Crow Wing rivers in the heart of erty provides an open vista between Crow Wing State Park was being the highway and forested parklands. State Trail Priorities subdivided and sold for residential Mille Lacs Kathio State Park— development, the Parks & Trails 125 acres he Parks & Trails Council Council intervened on the state’s be- Two separate parcels within the of Minnesota 2012 Trails half to secure options so that the land T park boundaries have been deemed to could be held in trust. Acquisition of Bonding Initiative calls for be of the highest cultural and historical these parcels ensures public access to significance. In addition to the presence $26.565 million for acquisi- a culturally rich peninsula that was of documented and undocumented once home to an Ojibwe village and tion and development of state burial grounds, both of these parcels are a key trading post. Complements trails, with projects that can be located within the Kathio National His- 2011–2012 LCCMR funding. toric Landmark District. Acquisition of undertaken quickly. Cuyuna Country State these lands for the park would provide These trails bonding priorities Recreation Area—89 acres protection of adjacent wetlands. reflect the continued demand for trail This area of former mining pits Nerstrand Big Woods State Park— acquisition and development as an and rock deposit stockpiles now boasts 193 acres economic development tool. The 2012 regenerated vegetation and clear lakes Three separate landowners are Trails Bonding Initiative will provide that draw a wide range of recreation currently marketing land within the many benefits to Minnesotans: enthusiasts. This is an 89-acre parcel park. The largest parcel is 143 acres • Trail rehabilitation and development with one owner, which would allow of rolling hills, Big Woods and Oak projects result in local job retention for greatly improved access as well as Savannah that during the end of the and creation. providing a better hiking and biking housing boom was purchased by a • Trails contribute to sustainable econo- experience within the recreation area. developer. Another 20-acre parcel The recreation area is also home to mies by creating business opportunities offers Big Woods protection while the and supporting other tourism activities. an internationally acclaimed 25-mile remaining 30-acre parcel would enable mountain bike trail system. the park to consolidate its land man- • Trails offer a safe transportation alternative, complementing roads and Frontenac State Park—40 acres agement while simultaneously holding commuter routes. Lowland-forested wetland with a off a development threat. • Trails contribute to healthy citizens. small stream flowing through it, and Sibley State Park—16 acres exposed dolomite bluff. Acquisition This 16-acre parcel, owned by Blazing Star State Trail—$500,000 of this parcel would protect habitat in one individual, would complete park To acquire and develop 5.2 miles one of the best spots in the country to ownership of Lake 21 and provide connecting the village of Moscow view migrating birds. extremely high-quality recreational to Austin. This segment extends the Lake Bronson State Park—439 acres trail opportunities. Blazing Star trail east from Myre- Big Island State Park toward Austin, Acquisition of this park inholding Tettegouche State Park—48 acres where it will connect with the western would make the parks land manage- Four privately owned Lake Su- end of the Shooting Star State Trail. ment activities more efficient while perior shoreline properties adjacent simultaneously neutralizing an to Tettegouche State Park on Min- Brown’s Creek State Trail— ongoing development threat. nesota’s spectacular North Shore. $1.5 million Maplewood State Park—160 acres Combined, these four properties on To complete development of 6-mile There are two separate 80-acre the Palisade Head Coast would make Brown’s Creek Trail, which will connect acquisition opportunities in the park. an ideal expansion of the existing park the Gateway State Trail in Grant to One features rolling topography with by adding 1/2 mile of shoreline and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway wetlands, open grasslands and hard- approximately 87 acres to the park. in Stillwater. Funding complements woods and the other would protect Acquisition of the 48-acre parcel previous LCCMR and 2011 bonding high-quality hardwood forest and would preserve an intact historic appropriations and Washington County wetlands. Acquiring the first 80-acre North Shore fish camp that includes funding. 275 East Fourth Street, Suite #250, St. Paul, MN 55101 • (651) 726-2457 • www.parksandtrails.org Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota 2012 Bonding Priorities Camp Ripley/Veterans State Trail— of 5 miles of trail from White Willow Shooting Star State Trail— $2 million to Goodhue. The state already owns 3 $2,326,250 Initial acquisition and development miles of the trial, and the remaining 2 For property acquisition and trail for the recently authorized Camp miles have seven willing sellers. Comple- development (Rose Creek to Austin Ripley/Veterans State Trail. The trail ments past state funding extending the segment) and to develop existing 5.6 starts at the Paul Bunyan State Trail trail from Zumbrota to White Willow miles of trail. Complements past state in Crow Wing State Park, goes south and from Red Wing to Hay Creek. funding. along the Mississippi River through Heartland State Trail—$2 million Stagecoach State Trail—$500,000 Little Falls and ends at the Soo Line Land acquisition and development Acquisition of initial land for the South ATV Trail near Royalton.