Full Membership Meeting Dates
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 — Legislative Action Day, State Capitol Complex.
TBD 2026 — Summer Membership Meeting, Location TBD.
TBD 2026 — Annual Meeting, Location TBD.
Online forums
February 19, 2026 @ 2:00pm – Engaging Latinas in Parks & Trails
Join us for our upcoming forum focused on increasing engagement with Latinas in state parks with special guest speaker Luisana Méndez from Huellas Latinas! Luisana Méndez is the Founder and Executive Director of Huellas Latinas, a Minnesota-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing access, belonging, and well-being for Latino communities through culturally responsive outdoor experiences. She is a civil engineer and urban planner with over 14 years of experience working across the public and private sectors, including municipal infrastructure, transportation, and community planning.
Through Huellas Latinas, Luisana has partnered with city, county, regional, and state park systems to co-create programs that reduce barriers, build trust, and support sustained engagement of Latino families in parks and outdoor spaces. Her work blends technical planning expertise, community-centered engagement, and lived experience as a Latina immigrant, offering a practical and grounded approach to inclusive public space design.
If you have any questions in advance that you would like to see answered, please contact us at greatermnparkstrails@gmail.com.
Topic: GMPT Forum – Engaging Latinas in Parks & Trails
Date & Time: Thursday, February 19 @ 2:00pm
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Gni7XSj5R366mTqoGynzLg#/registration
Events
March 4, 2026 – Legislative Action Day
Is it your first time connecting with legislators? Do you want to learn more about parks and trails advocacy? There’s no better way to ease into the process or get more involved than attending GMPT’s annual Legislative Action Day at the Capitol!
This year’s event will take place in St. Paul on Wednesday, March 4, starting at 10:00 a.m. This partial-day event provides:
- An update from the Greater MN Parks & Trails Commission (GMRPTC)
- Strategies for protecting MN’s lands from key partners
- A presentation from Conservation MN discussing constitutional amendments & the new community grants program
- Advice on lobbying
- An opportunity to tour the Capitol Complex
- Networking opportunities
- … And much more!
The registration fee is $36 for in-person attendance, but a virtual option will be provided free of cost. Payment can be made via credit card when registering online or attendees can submit a check when they arrive at the event. Formal invoices will be sent after the event concludes.
For questions about our legislative work, please reach out to GMPT Lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-hood.com.
Board Meeting Dates
(Third Thursday of the month, with the exception of during the legislative session. Meetings will be held via conference call unless otherwise specified.)
Friday, January 16, 2026 — 9 a.m.
February TBD, 2026 — 9 a.m.
March TBD, 2026 — 9 a.m.
April TBD, 2026 — 9 a.m.
May TBD, 2026 — 9 a.m.
June TBD, 2026 — 9 a.m.
July TBD, 2026 — 9 a.m.
August TBD, 2026 — 10 a.m.
September TBD, 2026 — 10 a.m.
October TBD, 2026 — 10 a.m.
November TBD, 2026 — 10 a.m.
December TBD, 2026 — 10 a.m.
More meetings may be scheduled as needed.