Parks & Trails Council Of Minnesota

Programs: Outreach and community engagement: our motto, "people saving special places" reflects the grassroots nature of our work. Not only do our members make our work possible by providing the largest source of our revenue, but their ongoing engagement in our work makes them the issue experts and thought leaders in all the various places that critical decisions are being made. Our membership and community engagement program keeps our members informed so they can be mobilized when the need arises. We also provide opportunities throughout the year for members to gather and experience the treasured places we work on behalf of. Our multi-faceted website (www. Parksandtrails. Org) is a key communications tool as is our special section of minnesota trails, a quarterly magazine that reaches 25,000 people. Our organizational newsletter, special places, offers regular updates to our members. In addition, the parks & trail council has 47 volunteer friends group affiliates that we support by providing fiscal sponsorship services, liability insurance, networking opportunities, expanded publicity through our web and print communications, and workshops that help build skills. Thanks to a special two-year grant we received in 2017, we will be providing pass through grants to friends groups to help them leverage state resources and support for the restoration projects that mean so much for state parks in their communities.

research and public policy: with economic concern and divisive politics dominating state decision-making, now more than ever minnesota needs the parks & trails councils common sense, nonpartisan and respected research and public policy leadership. Our reputation as an independent, honest and forthright voice for our states parks and trails is a result of our commitment to making sure our policy positions are informed by the best available minds, data and science. In addition to conducting, promoting and reviewing research on topics related to conservation and outdoor recreation, the parks & trails council strives to be a facilitator of park and trail-related research by ensuring timely dissemination of information to policy makers, our membership and the public. In 2017, the parks & trails council continued its annual state trail counts and updated several key fact sheets, all of which is available on the research and reports page of our website at www. Parksandtrails. Org.

land protection: acquiring land for the publics use and benefit is the cornerstone of the parks & trails councils work, and state and local governments count on us to secure park and trail lands that are under imminent threat of sale or development. Our samuel h. Morgan land acquisition fund, a revolving loan fund currently valued at $4. 8 million, has been central to our effectiveness, allowing us to move quickly to purchase strategically selected lands when they are up for sale and holding them in trust until a public agency can assume ownership. In 2017, we purchased three properties totaling 185 acres for $1. 1 million. In addition, we ended the year with eight properties in our inventory totaling 385 acres valued at $1. 7 million.