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Minnesota Parkway Commission 2019-20 Annual Report (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020)

56 33rd Avenue S, #283, St. Cloud, MN, 56301 • 651-341-4196 • www.MnMississippiRiver.com

Mission

The mission of the Mississippi River Parkway Commission (MN-MRPC) is to preserve, promote and enhance the resources of the Mississippi River Valley and to develop the highways and amenities of the (GRR). The Commission is organized and guided by Minnesota Statute 161.1419. The Minnesota Great River Road is designated and managed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation under Minnesota Statute 161.142. The Minnesota Great River Road spans 565 miles, 43 communities, 20 counties, three tribes and six unique destination areas.

Commission Meetings

The MN-MRPC held regular quarterly meetings on August 15, 2019; November 21, 2019; and February 6, 2020. The meeting scheduled for June 4 was cancelled due to meeting restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Committee met on July 30, 2019 and February 10, 2020. Meeting materials are available at https://www.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/mrpc/mrpc.html. The Commission continues to focus on implementation of the MN Great River Road Corridor Management Plan (CMP) and the ten state MRPC Corridor Management Plan.

Projects & Activities

MN Great River Road Website: The Minnesota Great River Road website was completely redesigned, and the new site was launched in February of 2020. Priorities included a more visual approach, mobile device friendliness and a focus on Plan Your Trip online mapping and travel guides. The project team of Megan Christianson, Lisa Havelka, Carol Zoff, Diane Henry-Wangensteen and Chris Miller managed the project on behalf of the Commission.

MN Great River Road Print Map: A new map was designed by MnDOT with significant input from MN-MRPC members, Great River Road Interpretive Centers, and marketing partners. The new design features a drivable map of the full route, Interpretive Center information and community detail maps. 80,000 maps were printed and will be distributed as partner sites are able to receive and distribute, through approximately mid 2021 dependent on demand. Maps are also sent out individually as ordered from the website and are available for meetings and events.

Plan Your Trip Interactive Mapping: The online interactive resource mapping, managed by MnDOT, continues to be available to the public via www.mnmississippiriver.com. Updates to resource listings are made on a regular basis. “How- to” videos are in development to assist the public in accessing features of the mapping and resource listings.

Plan Your Project Interactive Mapping: Final development of this online resource continues at MnDOT including creation of training materials to facilitate use by road management authorities, attraction managers and communities along the route as they proceed with construction or maintenance projects impacting the byway or its resources.

Ambassador Development: The objective of the Ambassador Program is to provide resources, materials and training for MN-MRPC member facility managers, local road and attraction managers, and local businesses and residents to improve corridor management, better serve tourists and encourage economic development. The plan that was in place to launch the program in early summer of 2020 with a series of in-person workshops was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the full two year launch plan will be restructured to a virtual approach with options to transition to in- person workshops and visits if and when appropriate. The Ambassador Development process will also gather information to update and maintain the 700+ resources on the Play Your Trip online interactive mapping. Page 1 of 3

Regional Meetings/Elections: Three regional meetings and elections were held per MN Statute 161.1419 for Commission members to represent specific regions of the Great River Road. The Headwaters/Northwoods Meeting was held on August 5, 2019 hosted by the Beltrami County Historical Society; Scenic Region Meeting was held on November 6 hosted by the Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce; and Crossings Region Meeting was held on November 7 hosted by Visit Grand Rapids. Agendas included state and national Great River Road updates, gathering of feedback from regions and elections. Sally Fineday, Karl Samp and Megan Christianson were elected to two-year terms representing their respective regions.

All-American Road Nomination: All-American Road is the highest level of byway designation given by the Federal Highway Administration for byways that are destinations unto themselves. A one-time solicitation for new nominations was opened after being closed for several years. The National MRPC Board of Directors endorsed the process, encouraged all ten states to proceed with the nomination process and provided coordination and support through the MRPC Transportation Committee. The MN-MRPC endorsed moving forward, a project team was designated, and work began in February 2020. The comprehensive nomination was submitted in May 2020. The nomination included details about all aspects of the byway and highlighted eight scenic and eight historic features of the MN Great River Road. Many individuals, agencies and groups were involved in the process including the project team of John Anfinson, David Kelliher, Carol Zoff and Chris Miller; development of the GIS maps by Suzy Scotty of MnDOT; overall guidance, suggestions and feedback from the full MN-MRPC; photographs provided by Explore Minnesota, DNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Mississippi Headwaters Board; letters of support from MN-MRPC member agencies and members identified to represent certain constituencies; letters of support from other partners and agencies; Holly Slagle of the MN Scenic Byways Office; and the National MRPC Transportation Committee.

MRCTI Collaboration: MN-MRPC members partnered with the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative as they and the MRPC planned for September 2020 Annual Meetings in Bemidji which were subsequently postponed to future dates.

National MRPC: MN-MRPC members and advisors participated on MRPC Standing Committees, served in leadership roles, and carried out projects at the state level. Anne Lewis serves as Pilot Pro Tem of the National MRPC; Karl Samp is Pilot Emeritus; John Anfinson was named Co-Chair of the Culture and Heritage Committee. Thanks were expressed to Carol Zoff as she transitioned out of her long-time role as Transportation Committee Co-Chair. Four MN-MRPC members attended the Annual Meeting in La Crosse.

Drive the Great River Road Month: The MN-MRPC promoted the National Drive the Great River Road Month sweepstakes and also promoted travel along the MN Great River Road featuring Minnesota State Parks along the route via a new online story map/travel guide developed by Suzy Scotty, MnDOT, for the occasion. The travel guide is available at www.mnmississippiriver.com under “Photos & Videos.” Anne Lewis served as the Minnesota lead for the promotion.

Funding/Great River Road Investments and Support

The Minnesota Great River Road and its amenities are supported by several funding sources including those managed by the MN-MRPC (state operating budget) and those managed by member/partner organizations.

State Operating Budget The MN-MRPC operated with state funding at levels allowing the Commission to continue its basic work and also implement Corridor Management Plan priorities. The operating budget for FY ’20 was $78,000. $82,000 in special project funds were also approved for Corridor Management Plan implementation projects in FY ’20 and ’21 focused on a new website, new print map, and Ambassador Development program launch.

MnDOT MnDOT provided special project staffing in the form of a SEEDS student worker for ongoing work on the Plan Your Trip and Plan Your Project Interactive Mapping Tools, development of story maps, and the new print map.

Minnesota Transportation Alternatives Program Local Great River Road communities sought funds for projects through the Minnesota Transportation Alternatives Program. MnDOT provided information on project intent, MN-MRPC conducted outreach to local applicants, reviewed project information, approved and provided letters for five project applications along the Great River Road. The requests, totaling over $2 million, were trail projects that would improve the byway experience for visitors and residents and help implement the MN Great River Road Corridor Management Plan. Page 2 of 3

Minnesota Scenic Byways Program The annual MN Scenic Byways Workshop was held October 15 – 16, 2019, hosted by the Mille Lacs Scenic Byway.

Examples of Local, Regional and Partner Activities or Issues

Brooklyn Park River Park Redevelopment: An update was provided to the MN-MRPC in February 2020 in follow up to the Commission’s letter of support in 2019. Four of six grants pursued for the project have been awarded. Work on the project was scheduled to begin in spring of 2020 with a grand opening in summer of 2021. Key design areas include a river overlook, fishing platforms, river edge trail, /kayak launch, and new park building.

Grand Rapids Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge: A new bridge over the Mississippi River was celebrated with a local ribbon cutting event. Art and historic markers were also installed in the area.

Great River Road Interpretive Center Nominations: Interest was expressed in Grand Rapids and Aitkin County and groups are working toward nomination of sites for National Great River Road Interpretive Center status which if approved would highlight these attractions at a ten-state level. MN-MRPC members provided details on the process and feedback on preliminary local plans.

Mississippi Gorge Regional Mark Master Plan: The plan was reviewed, and feedback was provided on the need to address maintenance of Great River Road signage.

Mississippi Headwaters Board: The Mississippi Headwaters Board held their Biennial Conference on November 1, 2019 in Walker, MN. The MN-MRPC participated in this event and appreciates ongoing communication with the organization.

Mississippi River Learning Center Project: A presentation was made to the MN-MRPC in November 2019. The vision is to create a river learning center on land owned by the City of St. Paul, which would also house a new headquarters and visitor center for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The visitor center would provide increased capacity for experiences and telling the story of the full Mississippi River.

Shore Excursions Tours: MN-MRPC members served as step-on guides for Shore Excursions group tours of American Queen passengers to the Mississippi River headwaters at Itasca .

St. Cloud Riverwalk Project: The City of St. Cloud continues with plans for a one mile stretch of riverfront from downtown north to the St. Cloud Hospital area and providing a connection to the Lake Wobegon Trail. An update presentation was provided to the MN-MRPC in November 2019.

USACE Upper Lock Disposition Study: The MN-MRPC authorized a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urging consideration of intrinsic resources and historic district impacts when evaluating alternatives for future uses of the Upper Lock.

Membership

The MN-MRPC is organized by state statute to include: (2) Members of the House of Representatives; (2) Members of the Senate; (5) Members of State Agencies - (1) appointed by each: DNR, MnDOT, Historical Society, Agriculture & Tourism; (5) Regional Members – (1) from each of the Great River Road regions established in statute; (1) Member-At-Large – appointed by the other 14. Welcome to Sally Fineday, new member elected to represent the to Grand Rapids region and Grant Wilson, new member appointed to represent the Department of Natural Resources. Congratulations to David Kelliher, who moved from technical advisor to appointee representing the Minnesota Historical Society. Thank you to departing members Nancy Salminen and Keith Parker for their service to the Commission.

This report is respectfully submitted on July 28, 2020

Sen. David Senjem, MN-MRPC Chair

Page 3 of 3

Partial views of MN Great River Road website homepage 2020

Byway miles between Interpre�ve Centers ollowing the Great River Road ..... Legend Lake Interpretive Center onal onal n tio n ti Major Rivers Lindbergh

Center Information Center/Rest Area Kelley Farm

& Recrea Interstate tio nal Eagle Center Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center Center House & Charles Oliver Historic Science Museum of Minnesota Minnesota Mississippi Na River Minnesota History Area Visitor Center Center Na Minnesota Marine Art Museum Museum Winona County History Native American Culture US Trunk Highway Jacob V. Brower Visitor 0 Explore Minnesota’s Center Minnesota Trunk Highway Forest History Center 140 0 Get On the Water Metro Area Charles Lindbergh House 291 151 0 & Museum Arts and Culture State Boundary Oliver Kelley Farm 371 231 80 0 History County Boundary Mill City Museum 407 267 116 36 0 Tribal Land Other Gems Historic Fort Snelling 417 277 126 46 10 0 Military Boundary Science Museum of Minnesota 427 287 136 56 20 10 0 Scenic Overlook State Park Great River Road Mississippi National River State Forest & Recreation Area Visitor 427 287 136 56 20 10 0 0 Park, Forest or Wildlife Area Center Wildlife Management Area Minnesota History 428 288 137 57 21 11 1 1 0 National Scenic Byway of the Mississippi River Center Excursion Boat Landing National Park National Eagle Center 528 388 237 157 121 111 101 101 100 0 Great River Road National Forest Photo Credits: MnDOT Minnesota Marine Art Museum 560 420 340 304 294 143 133 133 132 32 0 Other Minnesota Byways National Wildlife Refuge MnMississippiRiver.com Green and white pilot’s wheel Winona County History signs mark the route Center 561 421 341 305 295 144 134 134 133 33 1 0 Find alternative fuel stations at https://afdc.energy.gov/stations/#/find/nearest

Follow the Great River Road Plan your Great River Road Trip! 1. Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center National Scenic Byway of the Mississippi River Want to learn more about Mississippi River exploration? Visit MnMississippiRiver.com to explore an online Great River Road Plan Your Trip Interactive Map. We couldn’t fit them all on this map, but the website allows you to discover over 700 points of interest, find over 36750 Main Park Drive Welcome to Minnesota’s Great River Road, a National Scenic Byway that travels 565 miles Park Rapids, MN 56470 200 locally grown food providers, and see where tribal communities are along the river! Other Great River Road travel options https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00181#homepage following the legendary Mississippi River on its way through Minnesota and then out through include Amtrak train stations, excursion boat landings, airports and the Mississippi River (Bicycle) Trail. Beyond the river, Minnesota's nine other states to the . It is a signed network of roadways offering a bounty of 21 other state and national scenic byways offer even more travel opportunities. river experiences in evolving river landscapes including the pristine Mississippi headwaters in Itasca State Park, lush Northwood’s forests, Minnesota’s central lakes region, rich scenic farm- MnMississippiRiver.com also offers Mississippi River online travel guides that highlight six unique regions of Minnesota's Great River Garden land, Twin Cities metropolitan area, and the awe-inspiring bluffs in southeastern Minnesota. Island State Road and special interests, with an enriched sampling of in-depth stories and river experiences, attraction hot links, 360 views, video, Recreation Area tour maps and more. Nature lovers will find ample opportunity to view the trees, wildlife and unique geological features in national forests, parks and refuges, 12 state parks and numerous scenic overlooks along the byway in addition to on the river itself.

Neche Lake of Pembina the ! Walhalla Saint Woods Take a hike on a woodland trail, float down the river in a steamboat or kayak, bicycle on the Vincent and test your photography skills at breathtaking views along this ever- ! Bathgate Humboldt changing river. Whether your passion is a walk, pleasure drive, fishing, hunting, golfing, camp- Zippel Lancaster ! ! ing, shopping or star gazing – the Great River Road can fulfill. Warroad Bay State Park Cavalier Hamilton

! Roseau Explore a network of Great River Road Interpretive Centers featured on this map and hundreds ! Badger Hallock ! ! Lake Bronson Roosevelt of other , theaters, galleries and historic sites to immerse yourself in the history, cultures Osnabrock Mountain Canton City ! Photo credit: MnDOT of the Mary Gibbs Visitor Center ! Williams and ecology of the Mississippi River. 2. Forest History Center Lake Bronson Milton ! 2609 Co Rd 76 State Park Greenbush ! ! Halma St. Thomas ! Grand Rapids, MN 55744 Crystal Hayes Lake Baudette Minnesota's 12 National Great River Road Interpretive Centers are part of a network of over 80 http://www.mnhs.org/foresthistory State Park Franz Jevne State Park along the Mississippi River in ten states. Each Interpretive Center has been specially designated Drayton ! Hoople !

Donaldson Ranier ! for its unique presentation of Mississippi River stories. Mileage listed above is between Interpre- Karlstad Waters of Dan ! Auburn ! International Falls Rainy Strathcona c Edinburg i Nash n tive Centers and assumes following the Great River Road. g VOYAGEURS Strandquist S Adams ! NATIONAL k

Thief y PARK Grafton ! Park River Stephen Sce nic By wa y Middle River ! Kabetogama Lankin Namakan Pisek ! ! ! Argyle Old Mill Littlefork Minto State Park Big Bog State Conway ! Grygla ! Lac la Croix Fordville Holt Recreation Area Forest River Ardoch

! Dahlen ! Alvarado Viking ! Inkster Oslo ! Warren Saganaga

! Crooked ! Goodridge Big Falls Gilby Thief River Falls ! Manvel Historic Michigan City Red (Upper) Photo credits: MNHSPetersburg Grand Niagara RED LAKE BAND BOIS FORTE Nett Gu Highway nf l Portage OF CHIPPEWA BAND OF int CHIPPEWA Tra State Park Grand ! Pelican i l Forks AFB Red Saint ! Orr Hilaire Basswood

River State 7 Larimore Emerado East Grand Forks 5 GRAND PORTAGE !Recreation Area King BAND OF LAKE Grand Forks Red (Lower) SUPERIOR CHIPPEWA

of Trails Kelliher Judge C. R. ! Plummer ! Trout Burntside Winton ! ! Magney Red Lake Falls !

Mizpah Ely ! State Park Lake Vermilion-Soudan Kodonce ! Underground Fisher ! Devils River ! Oklee Thompson Northome Vermilion Mine State Park 3. Charles Lindbergh House & Museum ! Effie ! Track Falls State Wayside ! Cook Northwood Brooks 1620 Lindbergh Dr S ! Crookston State Wayside ! ! ! Bear Head Lake Little Falls, MNAneta 56345 Trail Gully ! Tower Superior State Park ! Funkley Avenue of Scenic http://www.mnhs.org/lindbergh ! Birch Reynolds State Park Mentor Gonvick Scenic Byway ! Cascade River ! ! Bigfork McCarthy

Hatton ! Blackduck State Park Beach State Park ! Sharon ! Clearbrook Erskine Babbitt Ray Berglund Buxton State Wayside ! ! Leonard Climax McIntosh ! ! Tenstrike Edge of the Wilderness ! Scenic Byway Finley 8. Science Museum of Minnesota ! Lady Slipper ! State Park ! Iron Range Portland Mayville ! Fosston Scenic Byway 120 W Kellogg Blvd Beltrami ! Turtle Nielsville Fertile ! State Park O˜-Highway Vehicle Winger Shevlin River Mountain St Paul, MN 55102 Bagley ! Recreation Area Caribou Falls ! Lengby ! ! Iron Aurora ! ! https://www.smm.org Wilton Bemidji Bowstring ! State Wayside Shelly Solway ! ! ! Caledonia ! Kinney Virginia ! Biwabik George H. Buhl Hoyt Lakes ! Hillsboro Bejou ! Chisholm ! ! Crosby Manitou ! Bemidji Leonidas Gilbert State Park Winnibigoshish ! ! Cass Eveleth Clifford Hibbing Hope Blanchard ! ! ! Tettegouche ! Gary La Salle Lake State Iron Junction Scenic Byway Halstad Keewatin State Park Recreation Area ! ! North Shore Nashwauk ! Luverne Galesburg Scenic Drive Ada ! Hill-Annex Mine ! Mahnomen Bena ! State Park Sibley LEECH LAKE BAND ! Deer River Hendrum ! Marble ! ! Silver Bay Pillsbury Grandin OF ! ! Taconite ! Itasca Calumet Twin Valley ! State Hunter WHITE Bovey Beaver Bay Park Federal Dam Cohasset ! ! Page EARTH ! ! ! Perley ! BAND ! Gardner Borup ! Photo credits: MNHS ! Coleraine Erie Waubun Schoolcraft Pokegama Gooseberry Split Rock Arthur Boy River Falls Lighthouse ! State Park State Park State Park ! Leech Ayr Felton ! Georgetown ! ! Warba ! Ulen Ogema Argusville Walker ! Amenia Brooktree Park 1 2 ! Remer ! Meadowlands Flood Bay Valley City Oriska Harwood Two Harbors Tower City Hitterdal ! ! State Wayside ! Island Lake Buffalo North River Callaway ! Akeley Reservoir Wheatland ! Hill City ! Casselton Nevis Ten Longville Photo credit: SMM Reile's Acres ! Mapleton Bu˜alo River Mile Dilworth Park Rapids Woman Oliver Kelley Farm Fargo ! ! 4. ! ! ! State Park ! ! Lake Park Floodwood ! West Fargo Moorhead By way Hackensack 15788 Kelley Farm Rd NW Glyndon Hawley enic Embden ! c Rose Count ry S Elk River, MN 55330 Audubon ke Fingal La Brookston Cornucopia Alice Frontier ! http://www.mnhs.org/kelleyfarm ! Detroit Lakes Herbster Bayfield ! Hermantown Horace Sabin ! Lake ! Backus ! Savanna Portage Skyline Kathryn FOND DU LAC BAND Port Wing Nome Menahga State Parkway ! Duluth ! Paul Bunyan OF ! Park Frazee Scenic Byway Big 9. Mississippi River Visitor Center CHIPPEWA Chickamaw Beach ! Oxbow ! ! Fifty Lakes Proctor Leonard ! Sandy ! ! Emily ! 120 W Kellogg Blvd Enderlin Kindred ! Cloquet ! Scanlon River ! Comstock ! Manhattan Beach Superior Barnesville ! Whitefish Palisade WashburnSt Paul, MN 55102 Sheldon Vergas Cromwell Wright ! ! Crosslake ! Carlton ! ! https://www.nps.gov/miss Sebeka ! Nimrod! Superior Christine ! Jenkins Tamarack ! Odanah Fort Ransom Wolverton Lida (North) Oliver New Odanah Walcott ! Jay Cooke Pelican Rapids ! ! ! Perham ! Diaperville ! State Park Wrenshall Ashland ! Poplar ! Breezy Point McGregor Iron River Franks Field Dent Brule Maplewood Aitkin Birch Hill Lisbon Colfax ! Lake Erhard State Park ! ! ! ! Nebagamon Saxon ! ! Richville ! Elliott Abercrombie Nisswa ! Barnum Englevale Rothsay Rush Lake Shore Crosby ! ! Dead ! Bluffton Ironton ! ! River Hurley McLeod Kent Gull ! ! Cuyuna Montreal ! Ottertail ! Mason Otter Trail ! Wadena North Riverton ! Marengo Otter Tail Lake Iron Belt Pence Elizabeth Scenic Byway Long Cuyuna ! State Park Veterans ! Verndale ! East! Gull Country Glendalough Deer Creek Aldrich State Recreation Area Evergreen ! Lake Sturgeon Lake Grand View State Park ! Memorial Drive Dwight ! ! Solon Springs Drummond Milnor De Lamere Baxter ! Denham Mellen Henning Hewitt Staples ! Brainerd Lake Mille ! ! ! Wahpeton ! ! Wyndmere Barney Mooreton Motley Kerrick Gwinner ! West Battle ! Underwood Lacs Scenic Fergus ! Pillager ! ! Foxhome ! Battle Lake Willow River ! Byway Photo credits: MNHS Breckenridge Falls ! ! Clitherall ! Crow Wing Garrison Vining ! Bertha State Park Rutledge Bruno ! Gordon Mantador Doran McGrath ! ! Mille Lacs Great Bend Cogswell Inspiration MILLE LACS Cable ! Finlayson Mercer Forman Eagle ! Dalton Peak State BAND OF Father Bend ! Askov Parkers Prairie ! CAMP Hennepin Clam Lake Wayside ! ! OJIBWE Cayuga Fort Ripley Banning Glidden Lidgerwood RIPLEY State Park Rutland ! Clarissa State Park Hankinson ! Campbell ! Mille Lacs ! ! Ashby Urbank ! ! Fairmount ! Kathio State Park Isle Sandstone Photo credit: NPS Randall Minong Browerville ! ! Harding Wahkon Nashua ! Millerville ! Wendell ! ! ! Onamia ! Miltona Lastrup Havana Elbow Lake Miltona ! St. Croix Butternut Tintah ! 5. Mill City Museum ! Evansville Charles A. Lindbergh Hinckley State Park Hayward Hillman ! Long Prairie State ! Danbury Little 704 S 2nd St ! ! Kidder White Rock Brandon Lake Carlos ! Round Lake Carlos ! Park ! ! Pierz Park Falls Minneapolis, MN 55401 State Park ! Little Falls ! Garfield Veblen ! 3 ! http://www.mnhs.org/millcity Barrett Flensburg Genola Chief Lake Rosholt ! Brook Park New Effington ! Quamba St. Croix Claire City ! Nelson Swanville ! Trego Norcross ! Osakis Sobieski ! Scenic Britton Osakis ! Alexandria ! Mora Webster New Post National Eagle Center Buckman Byway 10. ! ! Henriette ! ! Stone Lake Reserve ! Wheaton Herman Burtrum 50 Pembroke Ave ! Hoffman Elmdale ! Royalton Winter ! ! Spooner ! ! West Ogilvie ! Pine City Wabasha, MN 55981 ! Grey Eagle ! Lake City ! Union Bowlus Couderay ! Forada Upsala https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org Bock ! Siren Kensington Farwell ! Grasston Grantsburg Radisson Dumont ! Long Hollow ! Rice ! ! Traverse ! Saint Rosa ! Sisseton Lowry ! ! Foreston Shell Lake ! Westport Sauk Centre ! ! Milaca Rock Creek ! Villard ! Phillips ! Gilman Donnelly Holdingford ! Lewis Langford ! Braham Eden Pease Melrose ! Saint Anthony ! ! Saint Exeland Glenwood ! Agency ! ! Stephen Rush City Birchwood Village Browns Valley Long Beach ! ! ! Cyrus New Freeport Frederic ! ! Foley Minnewaska ! Munich Barronett Goodwill Sam Brown ! Meire ! Albany Beardsley ! Starbuck Grove Avon ! Memorial State ! ! ! ! Chokio Morris ! ! Haugen Peever ! ! Pierpont Wayside Graceville Johnson Greenwald Sauk Rapids Roslyn Barry Alberta Glacial Lakes ! Sedan ! ! Luck Elrosa ! Saint Joseph Cambridge Prentice ! ! ! Catawba State Park ! ! Harris Grenville Saint Cloud Princeton Cumberland Hawkins Kennan ! Wild River Ingram Andover ! Spring Brooten Saint ! State Park Milltown ! Clinton Hill Martin ! Rice Lake Tony Glen Flora Rockville ! North Branch Ogema ! Ladysmith Wilmot Belgrade Lake ! Isanti Bruce Glacial ! ! Henry Richmond ! Saint Augusta ! Clear Zimmerman Centuria Bristol Ridge ! Lake ! Cold ! Weyerhaeuser Webster Spring St. Balsam Lake Trail ! Waubay ! Roscoe Croix Falls Cameron Ortley Big Stone Bethel Almena Barron ! Regal Stacy Conrath Corona Big Stone Lake ! Center City ! Turtle Lake Clontarf Monson ! ! ! ! Taylors Falls Westboro ! East Bethel Shafer Becker ! ! ! Photo credits: MNHS Summit State Park Lake Paynesville Saint Francis Jump River Chisago City ! Butler ! Sunburg Lindstrom Dresser ! Rib Lake Ortonville State Park ! Nowthen Marvin Benson Eden Valley ! Grove ! Clayton ! Big Lake ! ! Chetek Sheldon New London ! Elk River Osceola Odessa ! ! Lake Maria Chelsea ! ! Sibley South Danvers Watkins ! Amery Kimball ! State Park Haven ! ! Milbank ! De Graff State Park Lily ! Twin Brooks ! William ! Holloway Monticello Otsego Forest Lake Dallas Green ! Columbus! Annandale O'Brien Whittlesey Correll ! Andover! ! ! ! Murdock ! Ham Lake Clear Lake Prairie Farm Holcombe Photo credit: National Eagle Center ! Spicer ! Appleton ! Scandia State Park Dayton Crocker ! Kingston Anoka Ridgeland New Auburn ! Kerkhoven Lake Saint Michael ! Louisburg ! ! ! Star Prairie Deer Park Gilman ! ! Cornell Bradley Wallace ! Bellingham ! Rogers Medford Stockholm ! Centerville ! ! Pennock Atwater Buffalo ! ! ! Milan ! Litchfield Blaine Hugo Florence Grove City ! ! ! Corcoran ! Somerset Kandiyohi ! Lexington Grant ! Nassau Lac Qui 4 ! Bloomer Historic Fort Snelling Strandburg La Bolt Albee Willmar New Richmond Stetsonville 6. ! Darwin Maple Grove Lublin Parle Dassel ! ! ! 200 Tower Ave Revillo Waverly ! Athens ! Houlton Marietta ! Emerald Lac qui Parle Cokato ! ! Jim Falls ! ! Madison Downing Garden City Greenleaf Lake ! ! ! Willernie Boyceville Wheeler St Paul, MN 55111 Loretto Crystal ! Stillwater ! Raymond Howard Lake Montrose State Park Watson ! Glenwood City Dorchester State Recreation Plymouth ! Oak Park Heights http://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling Medina ! ! ! ! Watertown Area ! Bayport Colfax 11. Minnesota Marine Art Museum Tainter Lake Long Lake ! Clark Clara City ! North Hudson Stanley Thorp Curtiss Abbotsford ! 800 Riverview DrWithee ! ! Hammond Boyd Henry Montevideo 8 ! Oakdale Cadott Owen ! Prinsburg Blomkest Winsted ! Roberts Chippewa ! ! ! Cedar Mills 7 Hudson Knapp Lake ! Wilson Cosmos ! Falls Goodwin ! Baldwin Winona, MN 55987 Colby Dawson Minnetonka ! Woodville ! Lake Wissota ! Lillian Mound ! Lakeland Shores https://www.mmam.org Maynard Spring Park Edina ! Silver Lake ! ! Woodbury Lake Hallie Altamont ! ! ! Menomonie 5 Boyd Lester Prairie Afton ! ! ! ! Excelsior Elk Mound Unity Hutchinson ! New Mayer 9 Afton Naples River Falls ! Spring Valley Germany ! Hazel Victoria ! State Granite Falls Seymour Stratford ! Eau Claire Gary ! Biscay Clear Lake ! Bloomington Park Sacred Heart Renville Danube ! ! ! ! ! Altoona Clarkfield Olivia Eagan Vienna ! Shakopee 6 Greenwood UPPER ! Spencer Hazel Run Upper Bird Island Norwood ! Elmwood ! ! Glencoe Fall Creek Young America Cologne ! Downsville Castlewood COMMUNITY ! ! ! Sioux Agency ! Chaska Loyal ! Savage ! Saint Leo ! Prescott ! Buffalo Lake Plato Carver Canby State Park Hector ! Rosemount Ellsworth SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON ! Stewart ! ! ! Willow Lake Hayti Brandt ! Brownton ! Hamburg SIOUX COMMUNITY Hastings ! Apple Valley Coates ! ! Hanley Falls Joseph R. Brown Augusta Marshfield Bryant Porter Hewitt ! ! New Auburn ! ! State Wayside Green Isle ! PRAIRIE ISLAND Lake Norden Wood Lake Jordan ! Lakeville Chili ! Vermillion INDIAN Plum City Arkansaw ! ! ! Toronto ! Belview Farmington COMMUNITY ! Fairchild Taunton Cottonwood Echo Delhi Belle Plaine ! Durand Granton Lake Poinsett ! Minnesota ! Hampton ! New Trier Hager City Astoria ! Arlington ! ! Mississippi Osseo Bancroft Minneota Valley State Bay City Eleva Neillsville Erwin Miesville Red Wing River - Mondovi Morton Recreation Area ! Maiden Rock Badger ! Strum Hendricks ! ! ! ! New Prague Elko New Market Pepin (WI) Humbird ! Franklin ! ! Fairfax Gaylord ! Ghent Redwood Falls M ! ! ! Winthrop ! LOWER i Henderson ! Vesta nn Gibbon Ivanhoe SIOUX e Randolph ! s ! White ! INDIAN COMMUNITY o Heidelberg Seaforth t ! Lonsdale Cannon Falls Frontenac Stockholm ! Marshall a De Smet State Park ! Pittsville Photo credits: MNHS Ri State Park Merrillan Hetland ver ! Alma Center Lake Preston Milroy V ! ! ! Pepin Arlington ! Lafayette Le Sueur Northfield Pigeon Falls Hatfield a ! Dundas Lake City ! Morgan Montgomery Pepin Lucan Wabasso ! l ! ! le Arco Lynd ! ! y Nelson Camden S ! Hixton Clements c ! Bushnell ! eni State c ! Le Center Dennison ! Whitehall By Goodhue Independence Brookings ! !Evan w Photo credit: MMAM Park a Alma ! y Bellechester Black Nerstrand Big Nerstrand Babcock Aurora ! Taylor River Russell ! Cleveland Wanda ! ! Falls Sinai ! ! Saint Peter Kilkenny Woods State Park Oldham Tyler ! Waumandee Blair ! New Ulm ! ! Swan ! ! Wanamingo Elkton ! ! Faribault ! Zumbro Falls Lake Benton Sleepy Eye Nicollet Kasota ! Cobden Flandrau Courtland ! Zumbrota 10 ! ! Carthage Tracy Sakatah ! ! Florence ! Mazeppa Kellogg Arcadia ! Lamberton State Revere ! ! Lake State Kenyon Balaton ! Garvin ! ! Springfield ! Nunda Walnut Grove Park Park Millville Buffalo City ! ! Waterville ! Cochrane ! Sanborn ! Ward Ruthton Madison Lake Pine Island Millston Minnesota HistoryRamona Center ! Morristown ! Minneiska 7. ! ! Hammond North Mankato Elysian ! ! Medford 345 W Kellogg Blvd Lake Shetek ! Minneopa State ! Eagle Lake ! ! Ettrick 12. Winona CountyWarrens History Center ! Oronoco John A. Latsch Melrose State Park Mankato ! Plainview Dodge St Paul, MN 55102 Holland Hanska Park ! West Concord ! ! State Park 160 Johnson St ! Skyline Elgin Fountain City Comfrey Lake Crystal ! Rice Lake http://www.mnhs.org/historycenterFedora ! Janesville Minnesota City Cataract Roswell Vilas Howard ! Flandreau ! Currie Elba ! Galesville Winona, MN 55987 Winfred Saint Clair Owatonna State ! Madison La Salle ! ! Jeffers ! ! ! ! Darfur Carley ! Goodview http://www.winonahistory.org Westbrook Waseca Park ! Wentworth Egan Dovray ! Storden ! ! Altura Wyeville Necedah ! ! Woodstock ! State Park ! Claremont Mantorville ! Pipestone Colman Lake Wilson ! Lake Madison ! ! Madelia Kasson Tunnel City Hadley ! ! Whitewater ! ! Slayton ! 12 Tomah ! Trempealeau Good Thunder Byron Rochester Hatfield ! ! Dodge Center State Park Stockton ! Pemberton Brant Lake ! Eyota Great River Blu˜s Oakdale Avoca Saint ! ! ! Dover Utica ! Butterfield ! Canova ! Trent Split Rock Creek James ! ! StateBrice Park ! Chandler Lewiston Holmen Sparta ! Prairie Camp Douglas ! 11 Chester ! Mountain Lake Saint Charles Ihlen State Trosky Iona ! ! Mapleton ! Park ! Rockland Edgerton ! Waldorf ! ! Bingham Lake Dakota Hustler New Lisbon Lewisville Onalaska West Bangor ! ! Hayfield Fulda ! ! Salem Dell Rapids ! Apple Blossom Windom ! Jasper Odin ! Ellendale French Island Dundee ! New Richland ! Drive Scenic Byway ! ! Norwalk Colton ! ! Wilder Ormsby Blooming Prairie ! ! Truman ! Wilton Mauston Kinbrae Stewartville Chatfield La Crescent ! Farmer Baltic ! Minnesota Lake Melvina Kendall Spencer ! Geneva ! Waltham La Crosse Sherman ! ! Rushford Salem Blue ! Heron Lake Hartland ! ! St. Joseph Hardwick Kenneth ! ! ! ! Mounds ! Wilmont Montrose Lismore Winnebago Delavan Sargeant Racine Peterson Elroy Garretson Kilen Woods ! ! ! ! ! ! Cashton State Park ! ! ! Trimont ! Hollandale Hokah Alexandria State Park Wells Freeborn ! Houston Northrop ! ! Easton HO-CHUNK NATION OF Okabena ! Brownsdale Historic Bluff Country ! Fountain ! ! Manchester ! ! Whalan Coon Valley Humboldt Brewster ! National Scenic Byway Union Center ! Luverne ! Lanesboro Emery Crooks Renner Corner Myre-Big Dexter ! Brownsville ! ! ! Granada Spring Hartford ! Wykoff Hillsboro Wonewoc Magnolia ! Canistota Beaver ! Island Mapleview Grand Meadow Valley Stoddard Meadow ! Alden Westby ! Lakefield ! Chaseburg Creek ! ! View ! ! ! State Park ! Brandon Welcome Albert Lea Addition Adrian ! ! Fairmont ! ! Elkton Preston ! ! Austin Bridgewater Alpha Sherburn ! Valley Rushmore ! Pine Lakes Worthington Jackson Blue Earth Hayward Caledonia La Valle Springs ! Beaver Creek Sioux Addition Walters S ! h La Farge Falls Conger ! oo Valley State Park Genoa ! t Dolton Hills Rose Creek in Viroqua Ironton Anderson ! Frost g Forestville ! ! St Lake Louise Yuba Monroe ! Myrtle ar ! ! Twin Lakes! ! ! Sce Harmony Spring Grove Photo credits: MNHS ! ! Dunnell ! n ! Steen Glenville ic State Park Mystery Cave Cazenovia Round Lake ! Bricelyn Adams ! ! Kiester Taopi B Shindler Ellsworth y State Park ! Viola Tea Ceylon w Canton ! Photo credit: Winona History Bigelow a y ! Larchwood ! Elmore ! Mabel Marion ! ! Lime Ridge Harrisburg Lester Eitzen New Albin Little Rock Lake Park Emmons Lyle Le Roy Harris Dolliver Chester Readstown Parker Rock Orleans Scarville Otranto Mona Meyer Burr Oak Rapids Ocheyedan Superior Northwood Lime Springs Freeman Chancellor Sibley Toeterville McIntire De Soto Spirit Lake Ledyard Stacyville Soldiers Lennox Estherville Lake Mills Carpenter Grove Gruver Okoboji Armstrong Worthing Wahpeton Swea City Alvord George Lakota Buffalo Richland Center St. Ansgar Cresco Lansing Arnolds Park Thompson Joice Bolan Little Cedar Ferryville Center Canton Inwood West Okoboji Riceville Boaz Milford Kensett Mount Olivet Hurley Ashton 0 5 10 20 30 40 Gays Mills Davis Wallingford Grafton Sterling Menno Doon Terril Melvin Mitchell Decorah Bell Center Ringsted Ridgeway Miles Sextonville Bancroft Matlock Manly Osage New Haven ÜFairview Hanlontown Waukon Lynxville Fostoria Forest City Fertile Rock Valley Graettinger Gotham Scotland Viborg Titonka Plymouth Elma Hull Boyden Lone Rock Woden Orchard Fenton Crystal Lake Waterville Avoca Credits: This map is designed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and producedSheldon Sanborn and distributed by the Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commision 2020. Photo credits are by each image. Protivin Harpers Ferry Muscoda Lone Rock Spring Green Hartley Burt Rock Falls Spillville Blue River Alta Vista Steuben Miller The Minnesota Mississippi River ParkwayCenterville Commission is a statutoryHudson commission, recognized in 1963, whose missionEverly is to preserve, promote and enhance the scenic, historic and recreationalHayfield resources of the Mississippi River, to foster economic growth in the corridor, andCalmar to develop the national, scenic and Eastmanhistoric byway known as the Great River Road. Spencer Boscobel Irene Colwell Ossian Archer Dickens Ruthven Mason City Nora Springs Fort Atkinson Beresford Clear Lake Lesterville Emmetsburg Ventura Portland Floyd Rudd Castalia & Tourist Tourist & CVB & Convention Bureau Convention & s: wa.dot.gov/byways Photo Credits: Explore Minnesota Tourism Center Information Center Visitor Area Recreation Bureau Tourism EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM TOURISM MINNESOTA EXPLORE Phone: 1-888-VISITMN www.ExploreMinnesota.com BYWAYS SCENIC NATIONAL www.fh www.redwing.org www.redwing.org City Chamber of Commerce Lake 887-525-3248 www.lakecitymn.org Chamber Wabasha-Kellogg 651-385-5934 www.wabashamn.org www.wabashamn.org Visit Winona 507-452-2278 800-657-4972 www.visitwinona.com Chamber of Commerce La Crescent 507-895-2800 800-926-9480 www.lacrescentmn.com 651-565-4158 800-565-4158 & Industry Chamber of Commerce Monticello 763-295-2700 www.monticellochamber.com Chamber of Commerce Elk River 651-293-0200 www.nps.gov/miss Mississippi Bluff 763-441-3110 www.elkriverchamber.org Mississippi: Metro HASTINGS TO ELK RIVER Chamber of Commerce Elk River 763-441-3110 www.elkriverchamber.org Minneapolis Northwest 763-556-7722 800-541-5464 www.minneapolisnothwest.com Minneapolis Meet 612-767-8000 888-676-MPLS www.minneapolis.org Paul Visit Saint 651-265-4900 800-627-6101 www.visitsaintpaul.com Park Service River - Mississippi National National HASTINGS TO BORDER IOWA TO HASTINGS and Chamber of Commerce Area Hastings 651-437-6775 www.hastingsmn.org Winona) Wing to (Red Partners Mississippi Valley www.missisippi-river.org Wing Visitors Red . Visitors Bureau Bureau Visitors Trommald) Trommald) & Photo Credits: MnDOT & Visitors Bureau Bureau Visitors Bureau Visitors & & ate Great River Road: Road: River Great ate representations for accuracy of this information and assumes no liability for errors or omissions. for errors and assumes no liability of this information for accuracy representations For more Great River Road travel information, contact: information, River Road travel Great more For the Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission. MNDOT makes no warranties, guarantees, or guarantees, no warranties, makes Commission. MNDOT Parkway Mississippi River Minnesota the Commerce Information Depot Information Commerce Commerce Information Depot Information Commerce Cuyuna, Derwood, Croby, Lake, (Bay Riverton Ironton, Emily, www.explorebrainerdlakes.com www.explorebrainerdlakes.com Falls Convention Little www.littlefallsmn.com 320-251-4170 800-264-2940 www.visitcloud.com ITASCA STATE PARK TO BEMIDJI BEMIDJI TO PARK STATE ITASCA Visit Bemidji 218-759-0164 887-250-5959 www.visitbemidji.com Mississippi Northwoods: GRAND RAPIDS TO BEMIDJI Visit Bemidji 218-759-0164 887-250-5959 www.visitbemidji.com Chamber of Commerce Cass Lake 218-214-1359 www.casslake.com Rapids Visit Grand 218-326-9607 800-355-9740 www.visitgrandrapids.com Chamber of Rapids Area Grand 218-326-6619 Mississippi Crosssings: Rapids Visit Grand 800-355-9740 www.visitgrandrapids.com 218-546-8131 www.cuyunalakes.com Chamber of Commerce Area Lakes Brainerd 218-829-2838 800-450-2838 Destination Area Contacts Tourism Mississippi Headwaters: LITTLE FALLS TO GRAND RAPIDS 218-326-9607 MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI RIVER MINNESOTA PARKWAY COMMISSION COMMISSION PARKWAY South - Avenue 56 33rd #283 56301 MN St. Cloud, 320-616-4959 800-325-5916 www.littlefallsmn.com Scenic Mississippi: ELK RIVER TO LITTLE FALLS 800-325-5916 Convention St. Cloud Area Little Falls Convention Falls Convention Little 320-616-4959 Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Rapids Area Grand 218-326-6619 Aitkin Chamber of Commerce 218-927-2316 800-526-8342 www.aitkin.com Chamber Cuyuna Lakes www.ExperienceMississippiRiver Phone: 651-341-4196 Road: River Great Minnesota www.MnMississippiRiver.com 10-St com This map was designed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and produced and distributed by and distributed and produced of Transportation, Department Minnesota the by designed This map was Lake Winnibigoshish Winnibigoshish Minnesota Great River Road Dam All-American Road Application Intrinsic Features Map Rustic Architecture Leech Lake Dam Pokegama Dam

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2019 Drive the Great River Road Month Minnesota

Goals

• Raise awareness of the Great River Road and its ability to connect Minnesota tourists and residents to the state’s heritage and outdoors by exploring state parks along the Missisissippi River. • Get people to drive the Great River Road to enjoy state and national parks that are nearest them and then plan more GRR trips for the future. • Promote the ten state GRR and sweepstakes

Governor’s Proclamation

• Requested and received proclamation from the Governor’s Office, posted at www.mnmississippiriver.com & sent to National MRPC Office • The proclamation was displayed at the National MRPC Annual Meeting in La Crosse and information on the new MN GRR state park online travel guide was presented during a general session.

MN Great River Road Social Media

• 15 Facebook posts (Great River Road MN). Facebook reach – 3,543 (compared to 3,950 in Sept. 2018, 3,324 in Sept. 2017 and average reach June – August 2019 of 481). Engagement for September 2019 posts – 300, compared to 251 in September 2018. • Top Facebook post – Sept. 3 -“ September is Drive the Great River Road Month in all ten Mississippi River states! We’ll be posting Outdoor Adventure Highlights throughout the month from 12 state parks and one national park along the Minnesota Great River Road. Our special correspondent, Suzy, put together an online travel guide highlighting her first visits to nine of these parks. Use it to inspire your own visits or as a virtual visit to Mississippi River parks as a break from your busy day…” • Twitter (@GreatRiverRdMN) – 3 MN GRR Tweets • Social media posts by Visit Grand Rapids, Explore Minnesota, America’s Waterway

MN Great River Road Website

• Button/link to new MN GRR state park travel guide developed at MnDOT. 831 visits to the new travel guide. • General information was posted about the sweepstakes and event. • 13,833 website visits in September (compared to June – 15,378; July – 16,601; Aug – 16,009). • 818 MN Great River Road Map/Travel Planners and 153 MN GRR Regional Maps downloaded.

News Release

• Release was sent to media list, distribution partners (CVBs/Chambers, State Parks, Interpretive Centers, Welcome Centers, etc.) and MN-MRPC members. • Targeted releases with specific state park photos also sent to media in area of state/national parks promoted. • Articles/Blogs – Aitkin Independent Age, Brainerd Dispatch, Monticello Times, River Travel Magazine, Mississippi Park Connection