State Park Land Acquisition

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Privately owned lands exist within the designated boundaries of state parks throughout Minnesota. Purchase of these lands from willing landowners for addition to the state park system makes them permanently available for public recreation and enjoyment and facilitates more efficient management. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is using this appropriation to acquire 9 acres for Crow Wing State Park northeast of Brainerd, 160 acres for Scenic State Park north of Grand Rapids, 55 acres for Tettegouche State Park north of Silver Bay, and 19 acres for Split Rock Lighthouse State Park northeast of Two Harbors.

OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund funding resulted in the Department of Natural Resources acquiring approximately 267 acres of land within the statutory boundaries of five Minnesota State Parks:

• Acquired approximately 13 acres in Crow Wing State Park comprised of three parcels on the Crow Wing River. This acquisition provides additional shoreline protection and adds to the recreational opportunities now offered in this State Park such as hiking, and access to the river.
• Acquired approximately 160 acres at Scenic State Park with very high quality natural and cultural resource value and adjacent to state park lands on two sides. A Civilian Conservation Corps. (CCC) built cabin is located on the lakeshore.
• Acquired approximately 55 acres at Tettegouche State Park to preserve and protect over 700 feet of the Baptism River gorge and views from nearby Illgen Falls. The state park surrounds this parcel on three sides and may offer additional hiking trail opportunities.
• Acquired a portion of 19 acres at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park which directly overlooks Lake Superior with views of Split Rock Lighthouse. The property is surrounded by state park land.
• Partially funded the acquisition of approximately 20 acres of land in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park located in Rice County. This property was identified as outstanding biodiversity significance by Minnesota County Biological Survey and has not been logged in over 100 years. Spring ephemerals are prevalent in this area of the park and the site is important to maintaining the closed canopy and diverse understory characteristic of 'big woods' in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.

PROJECT RESULTS USE AND DISSEMINATION
As state park maps are updated these former private lands are identified as public land open to use by all park visitors.