Purpose

• The bill modifies how regional parks and trails planning and funding are managed outside the Twin Cities metro area, changes how grants are awarded, and extends funding availability for several existing park projects.

Districts, planning, and hearings

• Establishes six regional parks and trails districts outside the seven-county metropolitan area.
• Districts are formed by combining counties; a single county cannot belong to more than one district.
• Districts develop master plans for parks and trails of regional significance within their area, in collaboration with affected counties and municipalities, and in line with the statewide strategic plan.
• Counties within a district may jointly prepare and submit a district master plan for acquisition and development of regional parks and trails, and may revise it over time.
• Districts must hold a public hearing on the proposed master plan and budget, with at least 15 days’ notice before the hearing, and the public may provide views.
• The commission reviews each master plan to determine if it meets required criteria; if not, the plan is returned to the district for revisions.

Grant recommendations and funding criteria

• When recommending grants, the commission must keep the recommendations consistent with the district master plans.
• Grants are determined using a merit-based evaluation process that includes the level of local financial support; this process is not subject to certain state rulemaking provisions.
• In making recommendations, the commission must consider the overall balance of grant benefits across Greater Minnesota.
• Grants may only be awarded for projects that are included in an approved district master plan.

Governance and reporting

• The commission shall elect a chair and other necessary officers from among its members, with the specified cadence (the text uses a phrasing of “annually biennially,” indicating a chair and officers will be chosen on a regular basis).
• The commission must annually (by January 15) prepare and submit a report listing its recommendations by regional district, in priority order, to the chairs and ranking minority members of the Senate and House committees with primary jurisdiction over legacy appropriations.

Grants extensions and specific projects

• Extends the availability of several grants from the parks and trails fund for specific projects:
  • Mesabi Trail project (St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority): extended to June 30, 2027.
  • Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo (Olmsted County): extended to June 30, 2027.
  • Kraemer Lake and Wildwood County Park (Stearns County): extended to June 30, 2027.
  • Plum Creek Park (Redwood County): extended to June 30, 2027.
  • Robinson Quarry Park (City of Sandstone): extended to June 30, 2028.

Repeals and related changes

• Repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 85.536 subdivisions 3 and 4 as part of aligning with the new framework.

Summary of changes to law

• Creates six planning districts outside the metro area and formalizes district-level master planning, hearings, and public input.
• Adds a merit-based grant evaluation process tied to district plans and local match considerations.
• Establishes ongoing governance and annual reporting requirements for the commission.
• Extends funding timelines for several already-authorized park projects through specified future dates.
• Removes certain prior subdivisions to streamline or replace them with the new district-based framework.

Relevant Terms - Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission - Parks and Trails Fund - Parks and Trails districts (six outside the seven-county metro area) - Master plans and district plans - District-wide planning, public hearings, and notices - Merit-based evaluation process - Local financial support - District master plan criteria - Public budget and plan review - Mesabi Trail - Olmsted County (Oxbow Park, Zollman Zoo) - Stearns County (Kraemer Lake, Wildwood County Park) - Redwood County (Plum Creek Park) - City of Sandstone (Robinson Quarry Park) - St. Louis County and Lake County Regional Railroad Authority - Legacy appropriations - Public notice and hearing procedures - Repealed subdivisions (85.536 3 and 4)