Parks & trails in Greater Minnesota receive a boost from LCCMR
The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) has recommended 65 projects receive $35.3 million total from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF).
The good news for the GMPT is that the LCCMR recommended $2 million in funding for the Local Parks, Trails and Natural Area Grants, which is one of our top priorities. Several GMPT member projects were also recommended for funding, including:
- $600,000 for the Mesabi Trail, County Road 88 to Ely Segment (St. Louis & Lakes Counties Regional Railroad Authority)
- $550,000 for the Mississippi Blufflands State Trail-Red Wing Riverfront
- $2.254 million for the Swedish Immigrant Trail Segment within Interstate State Park
In addition, $2.5 million was recommended to go to the DNR for state trails development and enhancement, with GMPT member Heartland Trail listed as a potential recipient. You can see a complete list of the project recommendations and a summary of the projects here.
We are pleased to see this commitment to enhancing parks and trails in Greater Minnesota, but the process is NOT over. The Legislature will still need to vote on these recommendations in the spring. Thank you to all GMPT members who reached out to LCCMR members to make this happen! We will stay in touch as this progresses through the legislative session.
