Congratulations to the following members who received DNR grants to help fund their projects!
FY2027 DNR Outdoor Recreation Grants:
FY2027 Natural and Scenic Area Grants:
To view the full list of grant recipients, visit the Recreation Grants page of the DNR website.
Below is a contribution from GMPT Business Member WSB, authored by Kassidy Przymus. For more information, please visit wsbeng.com.
Forge Ahead
WSB is a rapidly growing design and consulting firm with a proven record of helping communities plan, design, and deliver meaningful infrastructure solutions. As a national infrastructure company, WSB brings together services across engineering, planning, environmental, and construction disciplines, giving clients access to a broad range of expertise through one collaborative team. Through this integrated approach, WSB partners with clients and communities across the nation to develop creative, innovative solutions for projects of every scale.
Designing Active and Useful Spaces
WSB has a longstanding reputation for designing public spaces that create meaningful, lasting value for the communities we serve. Our team partners with clients to strengthen community connections through places that promote diversity, support inclusivity, and inspire creativity. Guided by a forward-looking design approach, we help deliver public spaces that are welcoming, purposeful, and built to be enjoyed for generations.
Project Highlight - Silver Lake Park, Rochester, Minnesota
WSB was selected to lead the design of the Silver Lake Park Redevelopment, located just north of downtown Rochester near the Mayo Clinic. As the prime consultant, WSB assembled a team of specialty subconsultants to support key project components, including CRW Architects, Full Circle Planning and Design, EDI-Dolejs, USAquatics, and California Skateparks. The redevelopment focused on four primary areas:
Aquatics Facility
The Aquatics Facility replaced the park’s existing pool and support buildings with a modern, more accessible recreation area. The new facility includes a fully fenced lap pool, a zero-entry wading pool, and shaded seating throughout the pool deck. There is also a splash pad with unique, distinctive overhead play elements near the entrance. A new pool building provides updated restrooms, showers, and concessions, while a basketball court on the south side of the pool area expands recreation opportunities for other park users. Walkways connecting the pool to the parking lot were also upgraded to meet current accessibility standards. The pool opened in spring 2026 and continues to be a popular summer destination.
Playground Improvements
Located on the northwest side of Silver Lake Park, the playground received full reconstruction with new Burke Playground equipment, ADA-compliant sidewalks, and a layout designed to welcome children and young adults of varying ages and abilities. The play area is organized into three zones: one for toddlers, one for children ages 4 to 12, and a unique pod designed for climbing and exploration. Together, these spaces create a more inclusive and engaging destination for a wide range of users. A 22-foot-tall climbing and sliding structure beneath the adjacent tree canopies adds a memorable vertical play experience, while meandering paths and outer walks improve circulation throughout the playground.
Tribal Gathering Space
The Tribal Gathering Space is located on the southern edge of Silver Lake Park, on a peninsula-like area along Silver Lake. This portion of the project creates a dedicated destination for local Native American groups, including GRADS, the Greater Rochester Area Dakota Supporters, with space for gatherings, events, and ceremonies. Rochester serves as a regional hub for several Native tribes in Minnesota, making this lakeside setting an important community amenity. Designed with native Minnesota plants and local materials, the gathering space includes a flagstone circle, limestone bench seating, room for a drum circle, and a fire pit to support larger ceremonies. Its location along the water also reinforces connections to fire, earth, wind, water, and air within the tribal community.
Skate Park Expansion
The current skate park is being modified to accommodate the advanced skaters that currently use the park. These modifications include creating larger areas for groups of all ages and experience levels to use. There is also a new flow bowl, large in scale, to be placed on site for more advanced skating skills. A medium-sized picnic shelter is proposed to provide additional shade in the area, with multiple seating options available. Construction for this part of the project will begin in Fall 2026, with an expected completion date of late Spring 2027.
Figure 1: Aquatics Facility. Photo taken on August 21, 2026.
Figure 2: Playground Improvements. Photo taken on August 21, 2026.
Figure 3: Tribal Gathering Space. Photo taken on August 21, 2026.
For more information, please visit wsbeng.com or contact Jason Amberg via jamberg@wsbeng.com.
Below is a message from GMRPTC Executive Director Renee Mattson. You can reach her at renee.mattson@gmrptcommission.org.
(Left) Jennifer, Renee, Roger and Brooke at the finish line!
Seems there has been an abrupt shift from summer to fall in recent days, at least in the northern part of the state.
I recently had the opportunity to spend a day with our accessibility expert Jennifer Skulski who did an accessibility audit at Lyon County Garvin Park. Jennifer happened to be in Minnesota that week doing another audit and things worked out well to be able to add Garvin Park to the schedule.
It was a very, very informative and eye-opening day at Garvin, joined by Brooke Kor the County Park Program Supervisor and Roger Schroeder the County Environmental Administrator. Garvin reached out for assistance in how to best upgrade their facilities to better meet the needs of those needing special accommodations. Jennifer reviewed the facilities not just for mobility access but also for those with sight and hearing impairments.
As we’ve started our journey at GMRPTC to learn more about how to do better on the accessibility front, to demonstrate “Commitment not just Compliance,” Joe and I have been serious about becoming more educated in this area and have learned we have a lot more TO learn.
What we discovered at the Garvin Park access audit is that we simply cannot depend on engineers or architects to provide plans, we need to ensure they understand the requirements about the correct way to build something. We cannot depend on a provider of a pre-built shower/restroom facility to get the specifications right; we need to verify the plans prior to purchase.
These were disappointing findings and underscored the sad fact that “professionals” are not required to be educated in accessibility and ADA guidelines. Though, hopefully that lack in education will change soon.
Jennifer overall was pretty happy with the facilities we toured; she had some pointed suggestions for improvements that Brooke and Roger committed to making. She also had a statement of high praise for a stick-built restroom/shower facility, calling it “the nicest bathhouse I’ve EVER seen!”.
So, this all brings me back to the accessibility forums that GMRPTC hosts every quarter. The investment of your time, just an hour and a half every three months, is beyond worthwhile. We know of course that schedules are busy, there is never enough time to do everything we want. If you miss a forum, good news! They are ALL archived on our website, so you can watch them at your leisure when you do have the time. And perhaps think about watching them with your staff so that everyone has the opportunity to learn what we can do to make our parks and trails welcoming to all who visit.
Thanks for your commitment to enhancing access.
(Above) Jennifer checking the height of the protruding object, which should be 80” of clearance, and if not, there should be a cane detectible object at the base, and there is.
To prepare members for the 2027 legislative session, the document below covers the organization’s policy goals for the upcoming year before adoption by the membership at our Fall Meeting in October.
For any questions about our legislative work, please contact Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-hood.com.
Below is a contribution from GMPT Member St. Louis & Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority. For more information, please visit mesabitrail.com.
The Mesabi Trail officially celebrated the completion of its 165-mile paved route from Grand Rapids to Ely with a week of events marking both the trail’s completion and its 30th anniversary. The official ribbon-cutting was held September 15 at Depot Park in Tower, following a 30-mile community ride on September 12 that featured the newly completed Tower-to-Embarrass section.
The celebration recognized more than three decades of planning, partnerships, fundraising, and construction that transformed the vision of a long-distance trail across the Iron Range into a continuous route connecting 28 communities. The final connection into Tower completed the planned 165-mile route.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the celebration was that the grand opening wasn't simply the opening of another trail segment—it marked the culmination of a 30-year regional vision.
The celebration in Tower was about much more than cutting a ribbon. It was about recognizing the people who had the vision for this trail decades ago and the countless people who carried that vision forward. Elected officials, community leaders, trail advocates, volunteers, contractors, engineers, funders, and staff were all present, representing different chapters of the Mesabi Trail story.
As several speakers pointed out, no one person or organization could have built 165 miles of trail. It took decades of persistence through changing economies, rising construction costs, difficult terrain, landowner negotiations, permitting challenges, and funding uncertainties. There were plenty of times when progress was slower than anyone wanted, but with every completed section, the vision became a little more real.
The grand opening also provided an opportunity to celebrate the trail itself. Crossing a remarkable variety of landscapes—from forests and wetlands to historic mine pits and active mining areas—the Mesabi Trail connects visitors to communities, businesses, attractions, and the unique character of northeastern Minnesota.
The week of celebration gave participants a chance to experience the full trail firsthand. The 30-mile community ride highlighted the newly completed connection between Tower and Embarrass, while the Tomassoni Tour brought riders together to experience another portion of the completed route. Together, these events showcased the scale of the 165-mile trail and gave cyclists, community members, and trail supporters an opportunity to celebrate 30 years of work on the trail itself.
Now fully connected from the Mississippi River to the Boundary Waters gateway at Ely, the Mesabi Trail provides a strong foundation for continued tourism, recreation, economic development and investment in the communities along its route.
While the grand opening celebrated an incredible accomplishment, it is not the end of the Mesabi Trail story. In many ways, it marks the beginning of the next chapter. The focus now turns to taking care of what has been built, maintaining the older sections of trail, welcoming visitors who are discovering the Iron Range, and continuing to build on the opportunities this incredible asset creates.
The Mesabi Trail is more than 165 miles of pavement. It connects communities, brings visitors to the Iron Range, creates opportunities for local businesses, and gives future generations a way to experience the place we are fortunate to call home.
Thirty years after the first sections were built, the master plan for the Mesabi Trail is complete.
And now, the next chapter begins.
A little fun request in the spirit of the spooky season:
Of all the things that make this time of year truly wonderful, seeing animals in costumes tops the list! As you celebrate with your furry (or scaly, or feathery, etc.) friends, make sure to take photos of your costumed pal and send them to us for a chance to be featured in our October newsletter.
Send your photos to contact@greatermnparksandtrails.org and include your name, where you’re from, your pet’s name, and what their costume is inspired by. There are no winners or losers here—just an opportunity to spread a little frighteningly festive joy!
Don't have an animal bestie to dress up? No worries! We would be just as delighted to feature photos of your pumpkin art—whether it's carved, painted, or bedazzled, we want to see it! Same instructions as above, minus the subject of the photo's name (unless you name your pumpkins, which is fine by us, no judgement here!).
Happy hauntings! ️
Below is a contribution from GMPT Business Member Nienow Cultural Consultants, now Braun Intertec Corporation. Nienow Cultural Consultants LLC was acquired by Braun Intertec Corporation. For more information, please visit braunintertec.com.
Planning a new trail, campground, or boat launch? Knowing your archaeological requirements early can protect your timeline and budget, and it starts with one conversation.
To increase Cultural Resources capacity in the Upper Midwest and expand the quality services already available to a diverse client base, Braun Intertec Corporation (Braun Intertec) acquired Nienow Cultural Consultants LLC (NCC) in June of 2026. NCC has been a business member of GMPT for several years and has provided archaeological services for multiple county and regional parks, including Bend in the River Regional Park, Belle Prairie County Park, and Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo. NCC, and now Braun Intertec’s Upper Midwest Archaeology team, is led by Jeremy L. Nienow, Ph.D., RPA. Jeremy has over 30 years of archaeological experience in precontact, contact, and historic properties and has overseen excavations at some of Minnesota’s most iconic locations including Lower and Upper Posts of Fort Snelling, the Minneapolis waterfront, and the Minnesota State Capitol.
Adding expanded Cultural Resource Management (CRM) to Braun Intertec means they can now provide multidisciplinary project planning deliverables including environmental assessment, permitting and compliance, wetlands and species identification, geologic, geotechnical, and hydrologic conditions, and of course architectural and archaeological efforts.
“What's the first step we should take when thinking about archaeology?”
This is one of the most common questions clients ask during the initial meeting. Archaeology is not typically front of mind when members are planning new boat launches, trails, bathrooms, pavilions, campgrounds, disc golf courses, etc. Finding a design team, managing the logistics of existing services, and determining how to fund the project are usually top priorities. However, archaeology should be considered early in the planning process, especially if you are using state or federal funds, working on public lands, might need an Army Corps permit, or if you are working around properties which are eligible or on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
The first step in determining your archaeological needs is to simply consult with an archaeologist. The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) maintains a list of qualified archaeologists; however, most project owners start by talking to their peers to see if they have worked with an archaeologist in the past. Reputation and word of mouth are valuable commodities in the archaeological community. The next step is completing a Literature Review and Archaeological Assessment, often called a Phase IA. This document will tell you if you have any known archaeological sites within your project area, if any previous archaeological investigations have been done, and a wellspring of background information on area soils, historic environment, archaeological regions, cultural histories, etc. At the conclusion of this report, there is typically a section of recommended next steps which may include consultation with Tribes, completion of an archaeological survey, reaching out to the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) or State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
While archaeological requirements vary from project to project, the first step is often the simplest: consulting with an archaeologist to understand what may be needed and how those requirements could affect your timeline, budget, and project goals.
Have questions about the archaeological needs of your project? Braun Intertec's cultural resources professionals can help you understand potential requirements and determine next steps. Contact our team at 651-295-3744, JNienow@Braunintertec.com, or visit braunintertec.com to learn more about all our services, including cultural resources.
Below is a contribution from GMPT Member Northland Arboretum. For more information, please visit northlandarb.org.
The Northland Arboretum is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grant to purchase an Axis 40 all-terrain track chair, expanding outdoor access for individuals living with paralysis and mobility disabilities.
Accessibility has become a guiding principle of the Arboretum's long-term master plan. As one of Greater Minnesota's regional parks, we believe the outdoors should be a place where everyone has the opportunity to explore, learn, and connect with nature. This investment helps turn that vision into reality.
The track chair will allow visitors to independently experience the Arboretum's 13 miles of trails, six botanical gardens, and other nature-based amenities that were previously difficult or impossible to access using a traditional wheelchair. The chair will be available through a reservation system, allowing individuals and families to enjoy meaningful outdoor experiences together.
For regional parks and trails across Minnesota, accessibility extends beyond paved trails and ADA parking spaces. It also means creating opportunities for people of all abilities to experience forests, prairies, wetlands, and other natural landscapes that define our park system. Adaptive mobility equipment is one way parks can remove barriers while expanding participation and fostering a stronger connection to the outdoors.
We are grateful to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for recognizing the importance of inclusive outdoor recreation and helping make this opportunity possible. We hope this project encourages continued conversations about accessibility throughout Greater Minnesota's parks and trails system.
Because everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the healing power of nature.
(Above) Welcome sign at the Big Falls Campground and Horse Camp.
August means the Minnesota State Fair, school shopping, last weekends with family before school is back in session, and funding tours!
The annual GMRPTC grants cycle opens April 1 and closes on July 31. In August, Joe and I had the pleasure of visiting the grant applicants and reviewing their proposed projects. This is certainly a lot of driving, and also a distinct highlight as we are able to review projects and really understand through an in-person visit what this project will mean to the community and visitors who use the park or trail.
It’s always energizing to see how thoughtful master planning—shaped through community engagement and dialogue—guides the long-term vision for a park or trail. Reviewing a facility’s very first project as it seeks grant funding is especially rewarding, and watching a park or trail evolve over time, sometimes from nothing more than an early idea, is one of the most enjoyable parts of this work.
I’d encourage everyone to take advantage of our beautiful Minnesota fall and explore a park or trail you’ve not previously been to before. The wealth of opportunity we have in Minnesota is simply amazing, and much of that is possible because of our Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment funding!
Though the last legislative session feels as though it only just ended, it’s never too early to start thinking ahead to next session. Of course, there’s an election between now and then, but we can still start working on our fundamentals to build on our successes in 2026.
At our annual meeting in October, we will adopt our Legislative Policies and Agenda, so as we begin drafting our agenda for the 2027 legislative session, we need your input! We created the survey below to make it easy for you to share your thoughts, and we will use your feedback to create our initial draft.
Your voice is critical in guiding our legislative agenda and overall work, so please fill out the survey today!
Click here to fill out the survey!
For question's on our legislative work, please reach out to GMPT Lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel at eawefel@flaherty-hood.com.
2025 News Archives
Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails
525 Park Street, Suite 470
St. Paul, MN 55103
contact@greatermnparksandtrails.org
