DNR Parks and Trails Regional Renewal and Rehabilitation Priority Projects
This program provides critical assistance to MN DNR Parks and Trails Division Regional and District offices to assist with renewal and rehabilitation efforts prioritized locally by field staff. Projects include the following types: State Park Building and Facilities Emergency Repair and Maintenance, Paved Trail Maintenance and Asset Preservation, and State Park and State Forest Trail Renewal. This project is a newly reorganized budget area that consolidates these three smaller project areas reported on in previous years.
A small portion of MN DNR Parks and Trails Legacy Funds are distributed to regional offices that achieve key programmatic objectives as part of regional planning efforts. These dollars are key to fulfilling important local initiatives and are accounted for at the end of the fiscal year.
$28,572,000 the first year and $25,524,000 the second year are for state parks, recreation areas, and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan.
$21712000 the first year and $22149000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan
This program seeks to provide funding for regions for high priority projects that are small in nature but have high impact. An example may be rehabilitating a hiking trail that has eroded and is causing sedimentation to a nearby stream or the replacement of a hiking bridge to resolve safety issues for hikers. Because the projects are highly variable in size and scope success is measured by the number of projects completed combined with brief descriptions of the impact.
$21712000 the first year and $22149000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan
(a) $19819000 the first year and $20777000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan
(a) $19819000 the first year and $20777000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan
This program seeks to provide funding for regions for high priority projects that are small in nature but have high impact. An example may be rehabilitating a hiking trail that has eroded and is causing sedimentation to a nearby stream or the replacement of a hiking bridge to resolve safety issues for hikers. Because the projects are highly variable in size and scope success is measured by the number of projects completed combined with brief descriptions of the impact.
$16584000 the first year and $18891000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan.
This program seeks to provide funding for regions for high priority projects that are small in nature but have high impact. An example may be rehabilitating a hiking trail that has eroded and is causing sedimentation to a nearby stream or the replacement of a hiking bridge to resolve safety issues for hikers. Because the projects are highly variable in size and scope success is measured by the number of projects completed combined with brief descriptions of the impact.
Legacy dollars at the regional and local level were a critical flexible tool to help field staff solve significant smaller scale problems. Examples of field projects completed in FY19 include:
Northwest Region:
*Installed electric in two camper cabins at Glacial Lakes State Park.
*Added two benches and three picnic tables to the nature play space at Buffalo River State Park.
*Added 70 cubic yards of sand to the Hayes Lake beach restoring it to its historic extent.
*Rebuild of the decaying Grefthen Bay deck at Hayes Lake State Park including ADA improvements.
*Added a new volleyball net and sand to the volleyball court at Lake Carlos State Park.
*Replaced the information kiosk at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center parking lot in Itasca State Park with a four-sided kiosk to provide additional space for visitor information.
Northeast Region:
*Purchased materials to repair and improve boardwalk and docks below the Chase Point Campground at Scenic State Park.
*Improved accessibility by adding ADA beach mats and a wheel chair for beach area at McCarthy Beach State Park.
*Installed a charging station for electric cars at Gooseberry Falls State Park.
*Made repairs to a snowmobile trail in the Moose Lake Area after a storm event in October 2018.
Central Region:
*Installed new natural playground equipment in Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.
*Rehabilitated and expanded the parking lot at the fishing pier at Father Hennepin State Park.
*Created a new lifejacket station at Afton State Park.
*Added wood railing to hiking trails at Interstate State Park.
Southern Region:
*Completed culvert work to provide efficient water flow at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.
*Replaced the fireplace in the beach house at Flandrau State Park.
*Completed a rip rap stream stabilization project at Fort Ridgely State Park.
*Installed an eye wash station and a water heater in Blue Mounds State Park.
$16584000 the first year and $18891000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan.
This program seeks to provide funding for regions for high priority projects that are small in nature but have high impact. An example may be rehabilitating a hiking trail that has eroded and is causing sedimentation to a nearby stream or the replacement of a hiking bridge to resolve safety issues for hikers. Because the projects are highly variable in size and scope success is measured by the number of projects completed combined with brief descriptions of the impact.
Legacy dollars at the regional and local level were a critical flexible tool to help field staff solve significant smaller scale problems. Examples of field projects completed in FY18 include:
*Adding gravel shoulders to the Lake Bronson Bike Trail between the town of Lake Bronson and Lake Bronson State Park.
*Improvements to swing set in the Old Mill State Park campground including new swings chains and ADA-compliant wood chips.
*Rehabilitation and realignment of Hallaway Hill Trail in Maplewood State Park
*Portable cart for dock winch to allow staff to move winch along the beach to install adjust and remove docks on Garden Island.
*Rules signs for horse and group camps at Wild River State Park.
*Rehabilitation of the campground trail at Afton State Park.
*Slump repairs on the Gateway State Trail.
*Repair of trail stairs at Frontenac State Park
*Hired trail crew to work on hiking trail projects along the North Shore including at Cascade and Tettegouche State Parks.
*Remodel of the interpretive center at St. Croix State Park including upgrades to windows doors and counter space.
*Campsite rehabilitation at Side Lake and Beatrice Lake campgrounds in McCarthy Beach State Park.
*Redevelopment of the Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area including a seasonal day-use area accessibility improvements and stormwater management and buffer areas to improve water quality.
*New ADA concrete vault toilet at Yellow Medicine Campground in Upper Sioux Agency State Park.
$17237000 the first year and $18067000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan.
This program seeks to provide funding for regions for high priority projects that are small in nature but have high impact. An example may be rehabilitating a hiking trail that has eroded and is causing sedimentation to a nearby stream or the replacement of a hiking bridge to resolve safety issues for hikers. Because the projects are highly variable in size and scope success is measured by the number of projects completed combined with brief descriptions of the impact.
Legacy dollars at the regional and local level were a critical flexible tool to help field staff solve significant smaller scale problems. Examples of field projects completed in FY17 include:
*ADA sidewalk to vault toilets in picnic area at Buffalo River SP and at sanitation buildings at Glendalough and Hayes Lake SPs. ADA path to fishing pier at Savanna Portage SP.
*installation of emergency lighting in Lake Bemidji SP sanitation buildings;
*road trail and/or culvert repairs and upgrades at Maplewood Tettegouche and other SPs;
*hosted a trail building class and pay for materials to complete a stone staircase at Jay Cooke State Park;
*landscaping and parking lot project completion at the recently completed partnership project with the “Friends of Maplewood” State Park Sugar Shack facility;
*phone and/or electrical service improvements at Bear Head Lake SP;
*replace self-pay station ("iron ranger") at Gulch Lakes Forest Campground;
*dam water level control improvements at Hayes Lake SP;
*adding new signs and/or gates at Hayes Lake SP Lake Carlos McCarthy Beach Grand Portage and other state parks and Cuyuna Country SRA;
*and moving a camper cabin from Itasca SP to Big Bog SRA.
$17237000 the first year and $18067000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan.
This program seeks to provide funding for regions for high priority projects that are small in nature but have high impact. An example may be rehabilitating a hiking trail that has eroded and is causing sedimentation to a nearby stream or the replacement of a hiking bridge to resolve safety issues for hikers. Because the projects are highly variable in size and scope success is measured by the number of projects completed combined with brief descriptions of the impact.
Legacy dollars at the regional and local level were a critical flexible tool to help field staff solve significant smaller scale problems. Examples of field projects completed in FY16 include: installation of ADA/accessible fire rings at McCarthy Beach Scenic Glendalough and other state parks; installation of ADA toilet at CJ Ramstad North Shore Trail (Two Harbors Area); installation of solar-powered water pump at Tamarack Horse Camp (St. Croix State Forest); bicycle and helmet acquisition ($300) for a pilot project to reduce fleet costs during staff patrols at Buffalo River State Park; road trail and/or culvert repairs and upgrades at William O'Brien Wild River Forestville/Mystery Cave Gooseberry (Gitchi Gummi Hiking trail connector) and Itasca state parks and Paul Bunyan State Trail; bridge repairs on the Beaver River tributary (Two Harbors Area) and at Camden State Park; phone and/or electrical service improvements at Lake Maria Wild River state parks; replacing a woodstove chimney at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park; and adding new signs and/or gates at Mille Lacs Kathio Lake Maria Wild River Kilen Woods Blue Mounds Nerstrand and other state parks; and swimming pool repair at Flandrau State Park.
$16821000 the first year and $16953000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan.
This program seeks to provide funding for regions for high priority projects that are small in nature but have high impact. An example may be rehabilitating a hiking trail that has eroded and is causing sedimentation to a nearby stream or the replacement of a hiking bridge to resolve safety issues for hikers. Because the projects are highly variable in size and scope success is measured by the number of projects completed.
Legacy dollars at the regional and local level were a critical flexible tool to help field staff solve significant smaller scale problems. Examples of regional projects completed in FY15 include installation of handicapped accessible fire rings at Buffalo River Glendalough Maplewood and other state parks; bison-related fencing and access road at Blue Mounds and Minneopa state parks; ski trail widening at Gooseberry State Park for improved grooming; and electrical service improvements at the office and picnic shelters at Fort Snelling State Park rail bed trail repair at Zumbro Bottoms Forest Recreation Area; solving the problem of helping visitors navigate between the Munger State Trail and nearby Moose Lake State Park by installing four kiosks with maps and information; and adding new signs at Central Lakes and Heartland state trails.
$16821000 the first year and $16953000 the second year are for state parks recreation areas and trails to:
(1) connect people to the outdoors;
(2) acquire land and create opportunities;
(3) maintain existing holdings; and
(4) improve cooperation by coordinating with partners to implement the 25-year long-range parks and trails legacy plan.
This program seeks to provide funding for regions for high priority projects that are small in nature but have high impact. An example may be rehabilitating a hiking trail that has eroded and is causing sedimentation to a nearby stream or the replacement of a hiking bridge to resolve safety issues for hikers. Because the projects are highly variable in size and scope success is measured by the number of projects completed.
This year's projects included repairs to swimming pond infrastructure and lift stations repairs to waterlines and park roads and erosion control on hiking trails.