Minnesota's Network of Parks and Trails

CREATION OF A PARKS AND TRAILS INVENTORY, FRAMEWORK, AND PLAN. Subdivision 1. Inventory and framework development. (a) The University of Minnesota Center for Changing Landscapes is directed to create a long-range framework for an integrated statewide parks and trails system that provides information on the natural resource-based recreational opportunities available throughout the state. The detailed framework must include an inventory of existing regionally and statewide significant parks and trails, respond to recreational trends and demographic changes, and identify underserved areas, overused facilities, and gaps in the current parks and trails system. The framework must identify opportunities for enhancing existing assets, developing new assets, and linking those assets together effectively within realistic financial resources. (b) As part of the inventory, the Center for Changing Landscapes shall develop a user-friendly Web-based guide for information on state and regional parks in the state. The Department of Natural Resources, the Office of Explore Minnesota Tourism, and the Metropolitan Council shall work with the Center for Changing Landscapes to ensure that all the information currently available on their Web sites is incorporated into the newly developed statewide Web system. The statewide parks and trails Web guide shall be incorporated into the Department of Natural Resources Web site. (c) In developing the framework and inventory, the Center for Changing Landscapes shall consult with the Department of Natural Resources, the Office of Explore Minnesota Tourism, the Metropolitan Council, local units of government, park and trail groups, the public, and other stakeholder groups. The Center for Changing Landscapes shall participate and be actively involved in the collaborative under subdivision 2. (d) The Center for Changing Landscapes shall submit the framework and a summary of the inventory in a report to the commissioner of natural resources and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees and divisions having jurisdiction over natural resources policy and finance by January 15, 2011.