Why Is This Important?
Minnesota has invested, and continues to invest, in the development of parks and trails of state and regional significance. Once a park or trail is established, regular reinvestment is needed to ensure safe, high-quality experiences for current and future users.
Today, a lack of funding, aging infrastructure, and intensive use have led to a backlog of preservation, rehabilitation and renewal work. For example: More than 100 of the 296 bridges in the state trail system are more than 100 years old and will need to be rehabilitated or replaced.
Desired Outcome
Minnesota parks and trails of state and regional significance are well maintained and up-to-date. They meet current needs and provide high-quality recreation opportunities for a variety of users with different interests, needs, and abilities. Rehabilitation is accelerated beyond current levels; this work includes the built infrastructure and natural resource management.
How to Get There
The public's current and future investment in parks and trails must be protected; to do that, funds need to be available to restore aging facilities and to adapt facilities to today's needs and lifestyles. But not only built facilities need to be maintained; natural resources themselves also must be maintained and protected. The three key areas for results are: protecting public investment in infrastructure, maintaining the quality of natural resources, and looking at options for marginally performing parks and trails.
Benchmarks for Desired Outcomes
In order to determine progress, providers should measure the following:
- Number of facilities and historic structures restored within parks and trails.
- Acres of natural areas preserved, restored, and reconstructed at parks and trails.
- Number of parks and trails mapped for terrestrial invasive plants.
Top Priorities for the First Five Years of Legacy Plan Implementation
Take Care of What We Have (25 Year Plan) / Maintain Existing Holdings (FY12-13 Legacy Bill)
- Accelerate rehabilitation of aging park and trail infrastructure, to ensure high-quality experiences.
- Preserve existing high-quality natural resources and restore those that have been degraded. Place a priority on controlling the spread of invasive species.