Summer 2016 (July)

SpecialParks & Trails Coun cPlacesil of newsletter

an Sho erm oting n Not Star State Trail © Mauree

Inside this issue Legislative Recap Pg 4-5 Itasca turns 125 years old pg 6 St. Croix State Park planning pg 8 Meet a friends group pg 11

Becklin Homestead preserves the only parkland in Isanti County that is along the Rum River.

Land Project: Becklin Homestead Park/WMA Photo Adding critical land at gateway to Rum River Contest! enter by Aug. 20 Looking for a hidden gem of nature? enhance the park. This addition was You can’t do much better than the part of the original homestead but www.ParksAndTrails.org Isanti County Park/Wildlife Man- remained in private ownership with agement Area (WMA) of Becklin a house and several other structures, Your photos will help protect Homestead. Here you can find a pas- until the owner decided he was inter- Minnesota’s parks and trails! toral landscape of prairie grasses and ested in selling. Plus, you can win these great prizes! old-growth trees quietly resting along st the banks of the scenic Rum River. Bill Carlson, Chair of the Isanti 1 place - $250 gift certificate to MPLS Frame Shop + $100 cash prize. County Park Board, was instrumental The park is relatively new, having been in both the initial park establishment nd 2 place - $75 cash prize established in 2004 with the help of and this addition. He says this park is

rd Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota near and dear to him in part because place $50 cash prize 3 - and numerous other groups. This year, it’s a place he visited often as a child, All winners and honorable mentions we helped add another 9.5 acres of featured in MN Trails Magazine and on our website and facebook page. critical land at the entrance to further Becklin Homestead | pg. 9

Acquiring, protecting and enhancing critical land for the public’s use & benefit. From the Executive Director Protecting parks and trails, it’s a team sport By Brett Feldman number of visitors, delaying much Parks and trails don’t care if you are a needed investment at this critical democrat or a republican. And they Being able to juncture means you can expect to see sure don’t care if you are from Greater work on behalf of crumbling infrastructure, unresolved Minnesota or the metro. All they care Minnesota’s parks health and safety issues and anti- is that we use our collective voices to and trails gives me quated camping and shower facilities. make sure we give them as much love boundless satisfac- It also means that you won’t see the as they give us. tion. I get to work much anticipated and high priority side-by-side with park upgrades and trail connections With all 201 seats in the House and both park professionals and elected that were planned throughout the Senate up for election in November, officials who share in a passion and state. See Page 4-5 for a recap on the it is likely that you will come face- dedication to protect the public good 2016 legislative session. to-face with a candidate running of parks and trails. Yet, there are times for office this summer or fall. Please when the reality of our reliance on a I assure you that my goal isn’t to spoil make the most of that opportunity state political system to take action, your upcoming state park and trail by telling candidates how important can hit hard. As many of you know by adventures. Rather my intent is to parks and trails are to you and by now, the 2016 Legislature can best be encourage you to think of protecting challenging them to make funding for described using one word: inaction. parks and trails as a team sport. It these special places a top priority. Tell takes all of us working together as a them you are a proud Parks & Trails So what does this inaction mean team to make sure our elected offi- Council of Minnesota member and to you and how will it impact your cials understand how important these urge them to support the Council’s outdoor recreation experiences? Well special places are to our health, our comprehensive package of funding when you consider that our state park economy and our quality of life. priorities. Together we can get this system celebrated its 125th birthday done. Thank you for all you do! this year, and that much of that aging Parks and trails may speak to you system built in the 1930s is facing and me, but there is no one to speak increased demands from a growing for them – except us. Let’s face it.

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

Thank you to our business sponsors

Minnesota TRAILS A Parks & Trails Journal / MnTrails.com www.mntrails.com page 2 Summer 2016 Event Recap Our supporters explore old, new and proposed trails in Scott County

On June 25, Parks & Trails Council hosted a 40-mile bike ride exploring the parks and trails of Scott County.

Keith Ottoson, a long-time member, volunteered to coordinate the ride. Keith greeted 60 participants at The Landing ❶ in Shakopee where we started the ride by traveling 3 miles along a new segment of the Minnesota Valley State Trail, past ❷ Valley Fair Amusement Park , stopping ❶ ❷ right before the trail ends at the Bloom- ington Ferry Bridge. Here David Minge talked about plans to extend the trail through the Minnesota Valley Wildlife ❸ Refuge with DNR senior trail planner Kent Skaar, explaining the plan for a dual surface corridor to accommodate both paved and natural surface trail users. We continued biking to Cleary Lake Re- gional Park for lunch and a presentation by forestry specialist Dan Comerford on ❸ ❹ the management of the forests in the park ❹ . We were honored to be joined by the mayor of Prior Lake, Ken Hedberg and Sen. Melissa Wiklund, both of whom have demonstrated their support for parks and trails. We would like to thank the Great Scots Bike Club and Michael’s Cycles for providing support for the ride.

State Parks News Which of these plates will soon be on Minnesota vehicles?

For many people, applying a state parks sticker on to a The DNR invited the public to submit artwork and then windshield is an annual tradition. But soon, that tradition vote on the three finalists (above). At the time this newslet- could get replaced with another: applying tabs on a new ter went to print, voting was underway. To see the winning specialty license plate. The new plate is expected to be avail- design go to www.mndnr.gov/parksplate. able in October. Those who opt for the plate will pay an annual plate renewal fee.

Summer 2016 page 3 Legislative Session Recap Session ends with unfinished work and mixed results for parks and trails The 2016 legislative session is best minutes of session, but couldn’t reach the bill because the legislature didn’t characterized by what didn’t get done. a compromise. The final bill under fully follow the recommendations of Legislators didn’t agree on a trans- consideration, which ultimately failed, the Legislative-Citizens Commission portation plan. A major tax bill was included $26 million for DNR reha- on Minnesota Resources. Lost in the vetoed. And most critically for parks bilitation projects and $11.5 million shuffle was $1.3 million that would and trails, no bonding bill was passed. for state trail development. That bill have been spent on enhancements was a start, but left many important across the state park and trail system. Bonding was the primary focus of projects unfunded. Parks & Trails Council’s 2016 Leg- While the 2016 session had its share islative Agenda, which called for an As of late June, negotiations on call- of disappointments, it thankfully ambitious $100 million investment ing a special session to pass a bonding wasn’t without successes. Legisla- to celebrate the 125th anniversary of bill are ongoing. Gov. Dayton issued tors passed a supplemental budget state parks in Minnesota. Our agenda, a list of bonding projects that he says that includes $5.1 million of ad- if funded, would have rehabilitated must be included before he will sign ditional funding for state parks and existing facilities and created new a bonding bill into law, and we are trails, including $2.8 million from opportunities: campgrounds would happy to report his list includes addi- the General Fund. These funds will have been renovated, historical build- tional funding for DNR rehabilitation be used for maintenance, staffing and ings renewed, trails repaved, sewer and Lake Vermilion State Park. Be strategic land acquisition. The 2016 lines replaced, native prairies restored, sure to check your email for updates supplemental budget is another big parklands acquired, new trails devel- as bonding negotiations unfold. step in the recovery from the historic oped, and local and regional grant cutbacks suffered two bienniums programs funded. Bonding wasn’t the only disappoint- ago. Thanks to Gov. Dayton and the ment at the capitol this year, as state current legislature, and a lot of hard Unfortunately, without a bonding parks and trails were cut from the fought advocacy, general fund spend- bill, all those projects are now on Environment and Natural Resources ing on state parks and trails has now hold. The House and Senate worked Trust Fund appropriations bill. Gov. increased in each of the last five years. on a bonding bill until the closing Dayton vetoed significant portions of

Legislative Success: General Fund increase marks five years of growth

General FUnd Spending on State Parks & Trails: WHY IS THE GENERAL FUND SO IMPORTANT for state parks & Trails? State Park and Trail funding was Increase attributable to the near historic lows in FY 2013 $27M 2016 supplemental budget bill The General Fund is crucial because it provides over $24M $21M half the funding needed to keep parks and trails $20M open day-in and day-out. General $17M Funds are used for vital visitor services, such as keeping 60% bathrooms clean, trails Increase in State Park cleared, naturalist programs & Trail General Fund running, and natural spending since FY’ 2013 resources protected. FY ‘13 FY ‘14 FY ‘15 FY ‘16 FY ‘17

page 4 Summer 2016 > Continued from previous page

Parks & Trails Council’s efforts at the legislature couldn’t work with- out grassroots support. A big and heartfelt thank you to all our mem- bers who spent the last few months calling and meeting with legislators, and driving to St. Paul to sit in and testify before legislative committees. All your efforts will go a long ways as Friends of Chester Woods with Sen. Nelson after a Parks & Trails Council testifying before the House Mining future legislatures finish the work left Senate Capital Investment hearing on trails. and Outdoor Recreation Committee. undone in 2016.

Legislative Disappointment: Bonding bill stalls leaving important projects unfunded What’s the impact of no bonding bill? Without a bonding bill, Minnesota’s parks and trails will have to wait another year - at least - before needed improvements can be made. We’ve highlighted a small handful of the important projects that will remain on hold until funding can be secured...

GOOSEBERRY FALLS State Park Funding would have renovated the campground sanitation buildings Funding would have developed at this heavily-visited park along a new amphitheater, renovated Minnesota’s stunning North Shore. visitor rental facilities, replaced the water and sewer system at Douglas Lodge, and stabilized erosion on the iconic headwaters of the Mississippi.

Jay cooke State park Funding would have upgraded the historic Oldenburg toilet buildings at a popular day-use area.

Sibley State Park Funding would have renovated the campground area and finished a trail Sakatah singing hills State Trail connection of the Glacial Lakes State Funding would have repaved 9 miles between the cities Trail between the park and the city of of Madison Lake and Waterville, which are currently New London. in poor condition with many uneven patches.

Summer 2016 page 5 Headwaters by Randen Pederson 125th Anniversary of Minnesota State Parks Itasca State Park was the forefront of a movement

This year marks the 125th anniver- Brower would later reflect: “No one, are still being used today (although sary since the creation of Minnesota’s will ever fully realize how necessarily many are in need of rehabilitation). oldest state park: Itasca. On April strenuous were the exertions which 20, 1891, at a time when forests were finally resulted in establishing Itasca Today it seems only logical that Itasca seen as an inexhaustible resource, land State Park.” The bill creating the park was created to protect one the most surveyor Jacob Brower convinced the passed by a margin of one vote. Later, iconic places in Minnesota. Although, legislature to halt logging in 10,000 opponents attempted to dismantle the surprisingly the outlet of Lake Itasca acres of prime forest in northern Min- park by introducing an amendment (i.e., the headwaters of the Mississippi nesota to create Itasca State Park. to terminate the park commissioner’s River) wasn’t included in the original salary after only 60 days. park boundaries; it was added in 1901. But it took a new mindset and the There were other ability to persist against tough odds to No one, will ever fully bumps along the way. make it happen. “realize how necessarily To begin, the park strenuous were the exertions Luckily, this new idea spread. Since which finally resulted in es- continued to be ille- tablishing Itasca State Park gally logged by people ~ Jacob Brower who realized that en- forcement was mini- mal, in part due to lack It was a day that Minnesotans can of staff and the remote, rugged land- take great pride in for this created the scape characterized by a checkerboard nation’s second-oldest state park. Only pattern of ownership that persisted Itasca’s first building constructed by CCC crews in Niagara Falls State Park, created in until the inholdings were eventu- 1934 used giant, wind-fall trees. 1885, is older. ally acquired (and today the park has grown to three times its original size). Minnesota was at the forefront of The remoteness also limited the num- what would become a state parks ber of visitors and basic amenities such 1891, Minnesota has created a total of movement that soon spread to all as trails weren’t developed until 1899. 75 State Parks covering about 275,000 50 states. This movement coincided Douglas Lodge was built in 1905 and acres. with the birth of the national parks, the scenic drive was built in 1925. which was spurred by John Muir, who Each park has its own creation story, successfully lobbied for the creation By 1938, at the height of the New often involving battles between com- of the first national park in 1872 at Deal programs put in place by Presi- peting interests. The grit and determi- Yellowstone. While this was nearly dent Franklin Roosevelt, Minnesota nation is needed today just as much two decades before Itasca, the next na- had 23 state parks and all were ben- as it was in 1891. Although today, the tional parks didn’t come into existence efitting tremendously from Works value of these places is well understood until just one year before Itasca. They Projects Administration and Civilian by countless number who have experi- were Sequoia in 1890 and Yosemite Conservation Corps crews who were enced them first-hand. in 1890. Minnesota was part of a constructing trails, buildings, roads cutting-edge idea and a leader in this and other infrastructure. Indeed, many parks movement. of these amenities built in the 1930s page 6 Summer 2016 Minnesota State Parks Quiz

1. What is the second old- est state park in Minnesota? a. Jay Cooke b. Interstate c. Afton Bicyclists and horse riders along the Gateway State Trail where dual tread accommodates both.

2. What is the newest state park/recreation area in Recreation Tips Minnesota? How to share a trail with a horse rider a. Lake Vermilion- Soudan Underground Have you ever been hiking or bik- have no objection to sharing a trail. Mine ing on a trail and seen a horse rider b. Cuyuna Country coming in the other direction? For On trails where users are sharing the c. LaSalle Lake people who are unfamiliar with horses same tread as a horse rider, it may be these encounters can present novel helpful to have these tips: amusement—a chance to momentarily 3. Of Minnesota’s total stroll next to a giant, powerful animal For hikers land area, what percent is that’s both domestic yet with a hint • Consider stepping to the side preserved as a state park or of wildness. But for many there’s also when meeting a horse. trail? uncertainty about how to safely pass. a. 10% • Greeting the horse rider in a friendly tone often keeps the b. 4% In May, a few staff members from Parks & Trails Council went on a horse calmer. c. <1% horseback ride with members from the Minnesota Trail Riders Association For dog walkers 4. About how many miles (MTRA) and learned a few things • Do the same as above and try to of hiking trails are built in about how to share the trail with these keep your dog close and calm. Minnesota’s state parks? unique trail users. For bicyclists a. 500 The first thing to know is that horse b. 1,000 riders are only allowed on designated • Do the same as a hiker. c. 2,000 trails within state parks or state trails. • When approaching a horse from There are 19 state parks with designat- behind, stop, call ahead and ask to ed horse trails and 13 state trails allow 5. How many endangered know when it’s safe to pass. horseback riding on at least a portion or threatened species can of the trail. • Ride at a slow steady pace past the be found in state parks? horse. a. 2 Many of these are multi-use trails, b. 50 meaning that hikers and occasionally c. 280 mountain bikers are sharing the trail with the horseback riders. The MTRA

explained that horse riders generally

2) C - est. in 2013 3) C 4) B 5) C 5) B 4) C 3) 2013 in est. - C 2)

1895 in est. - B 1) : nswers

Summer 2016 A page 7 Park planning staff and community members talk about plans for St. Croix during open house on June 16.

State Parks Management Major blowdown spurs plans for a new future at St. Croix State Park

Waterfalls, prairies, woods, creeks… plan. A handful of people showed up. pine barrens and the blowdown has these are what make a state park a Some had concerns about specific ways given them the opportunity to restore state park. But there’s another element they use the park, such as horseback that ecosystem. As such, the formerly that’s more hidden that plays a big riding. Others wanted to share their dense pine forests will be managed to role in how we experience a park—the hopes for a new long-distance foot- have fewer trees. management. Not only does manage- path along the river connecting St. ment influence the resources them- Croix to . And still Templin said the planning process will selves, for example prescribed burns others were just curious about the pro- likely explore creating shorter, loop can keep a prairie from turning into a cess. St. Croix does not have a friends trails in the park. “Right now if you forest; but it often shapes the way we group, as many other parks do, other- want to go for a hike, you’ll need to be interact with those resources, by build- wise they would likely be a key group prepared for an all-day hike unless you ing a trail to the river for example. If to provide input on a master plan. back-track.” A possible redesign of the you want a say in management, a good campground is also a subject ripe for start is to provide input on the master The public can still provide input discussion. plan. and learn about the plan by visiting the planning webpage (see sidebar This spring planners began the process for address). The public can also join to create a master plan for St. Croix, the citizen advisory committee. “This which is the largest state park in Min- group becomes a sounding board as we nesota. Having been created before the develop ideas for the plan, explained master plan was a requirement, this regional interpretive supervisor Kacie will actually be the first plan for the Carlson. “We pitch ideas around as park. This plan will be significant for a group.” They will meet about four another reason too. The DNR recently times this summer. The goal is to have designated St. Croix as a “destination” a final plan completed by the end of park and lead planner Jade Templin the year. Park visitors can hike a trail along St. Croix River. explained that this “gives us our first chance to incorporate the new idea Part of what spurred action on plan- of a destination park into a plan and ning for the park was the severe wind- more fully develop what it means.” storm that ripped through St. Croix State Park in July 2011. Within hours, On June 16 the public was invited to the park was transformed with thou- an open house to share ideas for the sands of acres of dense forest blown down. Since then park staff have been Planning Webpage working to restore the park and began Follow the planning process for to see this as an opportunity to plan St. Croix and provide input at: for a new future. At the open house, the natural resource staff explained Once a dense forested area, but after the 2011 www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/ that before European settlement much blowdown, this area is transitioning toward a pine mgmtplans/parks/st_croix.html of the land around St. Croix was a barren reminiscent of pre-settlement times. page 8 Summer 2016 b

a c a) Park map showing the land acquisition. b) The house (hidden in trees) on the land acquired will be removed and land restored to look similar to c) other areas in the park where oak saplings and other native plants have been planted.

 Becklin Homestead Acquisition continued from page 1

long before it was a park. The Becklin such as monarch butterflies. The Getting Here family bought the farm from the orig- county will be seeking funding from inal owner in 1898 and maintained it the Legacy Amendment to make this Becklin Homestead is located within the family until it was estab- possible. Visitors will eventually be north of Cambridge: lished as a park. During that time able to enjoy a mowed surface trail ¾¾ West on Hwy 95 they welcomed people to enjoy the loop through the wildflowers. ¾¾ Right (North) onto Polk St / land. “The Becklins treated this land Hwy 14 like a park, letting folks come and In the meantime, visitors to the park, ¾¾ Left (West) onto 339th Ave enjoy it by allowing them to hunt, fish which is jointly managed as a county and follow as it becomes Holly and launch their boats,” said Carlson. park and wildlife management area, St and runs into the park can enjoy 2.5 miles of multi-use trails, While Parks & Trails Council of a welcoming picnic shelter, play- Minnesota has a long history with ground and boat access to the Rum state parks, there are also a number of River. Carlson says you will likely see About Our Land county parks where we’ve played a key bald eagles when you visit. At desig- Acquisition Program role. “Becklin Homestead definitely nated times during the year Becklin fit within our criteria for land assis- Homestead is open to hunting for With member support, we ensure tance based on its outstanding natural people who are physically challenged magnificent natural areas are protect- resources located near a population as part of the Capable Partners pro- ed for the public’s benefit. We acquire center,” says Brett Feldman, Parks & gram. The hunting community has critical land when it goes up for sale, Trails Council’s executive director. provided significant fundraising to ac- before it’s lost to private development. quire both the original park and this We then hold it in trust while work- Barry Wendorf, Isanti County parks addition. In addition, the Minnesota ing with partners to add the land into director says the immediate plans for Department of Natural Resources a park or trail. Once incorporated, we the new land include removing the provided 50 percent of the acquisition reinvest those dollars into the next existing residence structure, a well and costs through the Outdoor Recre- critical land acquisition. Learn more septic system. Then, long-term plans ation Grant. and apply for land assistance at will see the agriculture field restored www.ParksAndTrails.org into habitat for native pollinators,

Summer 2016 page 9 Citizen Science Volunteers can turn a fun pastime into valuable academic data

But now imagine ramp- intriguing. Park managers may find ing up these observa- such information helpful in deciding tions and systemically when to conduct prescribed burns for recording and sharing example, or when to host a bluebell them for anyone to see festival in the park. and compare with others’ across the state. With Scientists are already using the data enough people record- collected by citizen scientists on this ing, you could begin to website to inform studies. The more see the exact timing of data they have, the more it can influ- the budding of the forest ence local decisions. from south to north, for example. Start Recording Photo by Jennifer Jewett / USFW This is exactly what a You can create a personal or group of scientists and concerned citi- group account to monitor spe- zens are doing in Minnesota and they cific species at: Phe • nol • o • gy (noun): the study of are looking for others to join them. www.nn.usanpn.org cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, The National Phenology Network especially in relation to climate and has created a website called, Nature’s plant and animal life. Notebook (www.nn.usanpn.org) where anyone can create an account Phenology is one of those things that and begin to systematically record you probably already do, but never phonological observations. knew it had an official, scientific name. Phenology can be as simple The potential for Friends Groups to as marking down the date you first work together in collecting data at notice the leaves turning color in the a specific park or trail is particularly fall. Sugar Maple Data Minnesota 2015 Today, phenology is taking on added importance as climate change is af- Breaking Leaf Buds fecting the timing of natural phe- nomena in new and uncertain ways. Colored Leaves

Parks are a great place to engage in phenology. Many parks ask visitors to jot down observations in a park log Examples of the types Sugar Maple Data Minnesota 2006-2016 book where you’ll see notes like, “I of graphs available from heard the frogs croaking in the pond Nature’s Notebook. Top Colored Leaves today” or “saw bloodroot along the displays timing of leaf events ear trail.” These notes are a great way to for sugar maples trees. Y reflect on seasonal events and focus Breaking Leaf Buds

Graph on right shows similar of nset D ay attention of the small, natural varia- data at different latitudes. O tions that occur throughout the year.

Latitude page 10 Summer 2016 Friends Group Partners Friends Groups that are members of Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota Border Route Trail Association, Inc. Cedar Lake Park Association Meet a Friends Group: Prairie Visions Central Lakes Trail Association Building a trail that connects pastoral towns Cuyuna Lakes State Trail Association Freeborn County Trail Association In 1990, community leaders in southern Minnesota wanted to pre- Friends of Anderson Park serve the area’s natural and historic Friends of Cannon Valley Trail resources while creating a sustainable economy. They soon formed a group Friends of Casey Jones Trail to focus on this goal. Friends of Since then, the group has been dili- Friends of Prairie Visions gently working, along with Parks & Friends of Itasca State Park at a glance Trails Council to advocate for public funding to develop the Shooting Friends of Jackson County Trails Star State Trail. This year the group Friends of Friends Group Started: will celebrate the opening of 11 new Early 1990s as a pseudo- miles of trail connecting into the city Friends of municipality created by a Joint of Austin. With this addition the Friends of Luce Line West Powers Agreement among trail will cover about 30 continuous four cities: Adams, LeRoy, Rose miles from LeRoy to Austin. Friends of Creek and Taopi. Friends of Mill Towns State Trail Mission: The friends have also successfully Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails For 25 years the main activity fundraised to add benches, signs, and has been in supporting the shelters along the trail. In 2015 the Friends of the Lindbergh Heritage Shooting Star State Trail and friends funded, designed and built Shooting Star Scenic Byway. a Norwegian-style shelter along the Friends of trail near the city of Adams. Association Websites: www.prairievisions.org Gateway-Brown’s Creek Trail Association www.shootingstartrail.org Gitchi Gami Trail Association Shooting Star State Trail: Glacial Ridge Trail Association A 20-mile paved trail in southeast MN crosses through Glendalough Park Partners Lake Louse State Park. Association Minnesota Horse Council

They have also fundraised to get a MN Nordic Ski Association trail sweeper to keep the trail clean. North Star Ski Touring Club

Their annual bike ride was on June Northstar Trail Travelers 25 this year. The ride promotes the Shooting Star Prairie Visions trail where bikers enjoy wildflowers featured State Trail Improvement and remnant tall-grass prairie. Association Southeast Minnesota Association of Summer 2016 Regional Trails (SMART) page 11 Board of Directors Parks & Trails Council of MN Non-Profit Org Executive Committee U.S. Postage 275 E. 4th St., Suite #250 Julie Gugin, President PAID St. Paul, MN 55101-1626 Twin Cities, MN Bob Bierscheid, Vice President (651) 726-2457 or (800) 944-0707 Permit #4936 Robert O. Erickson, Treasurer www.parksandtrails.org Dorothy Anderson, Secretary Verónica Jaralambides Bruce Johnson Ed Murphy Directors Richard “Dick” Brainerd Kathy Connelly Your membership anniversary is Anne Flueckiger Jane Harper XX/XX Paul Karazija Kellie Lowman Emily Nesvold Stacy Osmond Tom Stoa Name Honorary Directors Rollis Bishop Address Sen. David Durenberger Thomas T. Dwight City, State Zip Martin Kellogg David Minge Mike Prichard Peter Seed

Staff & Consultants

Brett Feldman Executive Director

Lisa Filter External Relations Director

Becky Hampton Office Coordinator

Ann Lenczewski www. .org Government Relations Consultant of parksandtrails Lockridge Grindal Nauen

Ian Marsh facebook.com/parksandtrails Government Relations Consultant of Lockridge Grindal Nauen

Andrew Oftedal Research & Policy Specialist Special Places is published three times a year by the Steve Young Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota Land Acquisition Consultant Lisa Filter, editor

Caitlin Woodard GIS Intern