Natural Resources

Parks and Trails Management

Statewide Outcome(s):

Parks and Trails Management supports the following statewide outcome(s).

A thriving economy that encourages business growth and employment opportunities.

Strong and stable families and communities.

A clean, healthy environment with sustainable uses of natural resources.

Context:

Parks and trails management is the job of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails Division. The division seeks to create unforgettable park, trail, and water recreation experiences that inspire people to pass along the love for the outdoors to current and future generations. This is accomplished by implementing four outdoor recreation priorities:

·         Connecting people to the outdoors

·         Acquiring land and creating opportunities

·         Taking care of what we have

·         Coordinating with partners

The division provides diverse outdoor recreation opportunities and supports jobs by participating in a sustainable tourism industry. The division provides windows into Minnesota’s original landscape by preserving and managing important ecosystems and viewsheds in the state. The division helps visitors understand and appreciate the story of Minnesota’s rich natural and cultural heritage through interpretation and outreach.

The division’s customers, the recreating public, are resident and non-resident. Its prospective customers and primary target market is young families with children.

Funding sources include general fund, dedicated natural resource funds, state park revenue dedicated account, working capital, legacy funds, lottery-in-lieu, and other statutory appropriations. The Parks and Trails 25 year Legacy Plan (http://www.legacy.leg.mn/sites/default/files/resources/parks_trails_legacy_plan_0.pdf) and the ten year Strategic Parks and Trails Plan (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/mgmtplans/strategic_plan/10year_2.html) guides our investments to develop and improve parks and trails to meet the changing needs and expectations of Minnesotans:

Strategies:

·         Provide high quality recreation experiences for campers, hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, canoeists, kayakers, boaters, anglers, hunters, swimmers, in-line skaters, paddle boarders, birders, off-highway vehicle and snowmobile riders, and cross country skiers and others by building a sustainable infrastructure and providing excellent customer service.

·         Preserve Minnesota’s best landscapes for current and future generations to enjoy.

·         Restore native ecosystems, protect natural systems and help stop the spread of invasive species.

·         Inspire and provoke visitors to learn about the stories of Minnesota’s natural and cultural heritage.

·         Identify and purchase high quality resource and recreation lands for public use.

·         Increase the number of families and children enjoying the outdoors through market research, communication strategies, and innovative recreation facility and program development.

·         Maintain recreational facilities, such as paved trails, bridges and campgrounds.

·         Provide leadership in the wise use of energy by creating energy efficient practices and buildings.

·         Increase family and youth participation in outdoor recreation skills by offering relevant skill-building programs and promoting opportunities through advertising.

·         Encourage and grow key partnerships: the Minnesota Parks and Trails Council, recreation associations, such as the Minnesota United Snowmobiler’s Association and Minnesota Motorized Trail Coalition, Explore Minnesota Tourism, clubs, friends groups, local units of government, and state agencies.

Results:

The performance measures in the chart below are a subset of the outcomes for the entire program. Key factors that influence outcomes include:

·         A change in participation in traditional nature-based recreation activities. In particular, there has been decline in outdoor recreation participation by young adults and their children. This trend threatens Minnesota’s storied tradition as an outdoor culture. To stem this trend, DNR Parks and Trails is implementing innovative strategies with its partners to connect Minnesotans to the outdoors and ensure Minnesota’s children become the natural resource stewards of tomorrow.

·         Taking care of what we have. Minnesota has invested significantly in its outdoor recreation system - both natural and cultural resources and built facilities. The state needs to maintain and protect these treasures if unforgettable park, trail, and water recreation experiences are to be available for current and future use.

·         Creating opportunities. The face of Minnesota is changing. The state’s population is becoming more diverse, more urban, and older. If it is to meet the evolving needs of current and future Minnesotans, the state must acquire and develop parks and trails in new and innovative ways that meet the outdoor recreation needs of people of all abilities.

·         Major shifts in traditional sources of funding influence how the division accomplishes its work. A decline in general fund resources and lack of flexible funding sources are causing service reductions at state parks. The division cannot use dedicated funds to support essential day-to-day operations and maintenance needed for maintaining a high-quality parks and trails system. In Minnesota session laws 2012, the legislature required DNR to prepare a report on the “long-term funding, use, expansion, and administration of Minnesota system of state parks, recreation areas, trails, and state forests day use areas”.

The DNR’s Parks and Trails Division has earned praise and recognition across the state and country. Recent awards include: American Trails “Best Trails State” (2010), Coca-Cola’s “America’s Favorite Park” - Bear Head Lake State Park (2010) and Soudan Underground Mine State Park (2011), “Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention” (2010), “Large Access Outstanding Project” award from the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) for the McQuade Public Access on Lake Superior (2009), and American Trails Winning Website award for the DNR Water Trails website (2009).

Performance Measures Notes:

1 & 2. Recreation participation by families with children was trending downward prior to FY 2007 in state parks and trails. The division has used Legacy funds to innovate its products, services and communication strategies in order to reverse this trend. It is anticipated that FY 2012 social science research will begin to show a slight reverse in this trend. Overnight stays and participation in interpretive programs in state parks has been on an upward trend since FY 2007. More information will be known about whether this increase includes guests under the age of 45 when FY 2012 research is complete in December. DNR is using market research to develop new products and modify existing products to increase per-capita and next generation engagement in outdoor recreation.

1.     Comparing FY 2007-FY 2011

2.     Comparing FY 2001-FY 2007

3.     Comparing FY 2007 to FY 2011

4.     Comparing FY 2008-2009 to FY 2011-2012

5.     Comparing FY 2008 to FY 2011

More information: Strategic Conservation Agenda: Performance and Accountability Report (http://www.mndnr.gov/conservation_agenda/performance)