Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

Goal # 1 – Acquire and Protect Land
Provide all Minnesotans with outstanding recreational opportunities by acquiring lands for state and regional parks and trails including land that contains important geological, historical, scientific, and scenic characteristics of state and regional significance.

Goal #2 – Advocate
Advance policies that cultivate a world-class system of interconnected parks, trails, waterways, natural areas, and open spaces.

Goal # 3 – Engage and empower
Build a larger, more inclusive, diverse, and active base to help advance our mission and vision.

Goal # 4 – Research
Conduct and disseminate research findings on key park and trail issues.

Goal #5 – Endure
Strengthen organizational capacity and capital resources to align with our mission, vision, and values.

ACQUIRE AND PROTECT LAND
1) Proactively pursue land acquisition consistent with our vision statement.
2) Collaborate and coordinate with partners (e.g. MnDNR, regional providers, friends groups) and peer non-profit groups.
3) Actively seek public and private funds to support increased land acquisition activities.
4) Maintain organizational capacity and policies to ensure the ability to respond quickly to high-priority opportunities.
5) Use a clearly defined land evaluation and purchase decision-making process to arrive upon transparent decisions considering risk factors including financial exposure.

ADVOCATE
1) Continue strong relations with Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission, Metropolitan Council, and the MnDNR.
2) Build relationships and cultivate support for our policy goals from culturally diverse and influential entities, and individuals from other sectors including, but not limited to, tourism, healthcare, transportation, conservation, outdoor recreation, and economic development.
3) Foster strategic two-way communication with stakeholders and partners to elevate awareness of Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota as a unifying and inspiring voice for parks and trails.
4) Engage an increasing number of members and supporters that are active in advancing our policy goals.
5) Identify and nurture opportunities, relationships, and actions to advance our policy goals using the best available research, data, and best practices.

ENGAGE AND EMPOWER
1) Develop and implement relevant engagement opportunities that grow and diversify our supporters while maintaining our existing membership base.
2) Develop mutually beneficial partnerships with friends group partners, including developing their organizational capacity.
3) Empower friends groups and other supporters to engage with parks and trails by strategically partnering with management agencies.

RESEARCH
1) Establish a diverse committee of respected experts and researchers to serve as a review board for our research agenda and reports to ensure that research is high-quality and has integrity and credibility.
2) Continue to conduct research on trail use and trail conditions.
3) Expand the reach of our research program as an independent, nonpartisan source that informs the public about the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping Minnesota’s parks, trails, waterways, natural areas, and open spaces.
4) Strengthen relationships with entities such as universities, the MnDNR, local units of government, and MnDOT in order to collaborate on key research initiatives, and learn from each other.
5) When possible, generate revenue from research activities.

The Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota works in a complex and ever-changing environment where our commitment to land conservation and outdoor recreation often collides with funding shortages and political forces opposed to public land. Moving forward, the organization will adeptly navigate these challenges to build on our strong legacy of sustaining, stewarding, and conserving outdoor spaces in Minnesota.

To date, P&TC has effectively cultivated a solid base of membership support and strong partnerships with state and local leaders, while being influential at the state Capitol. With the passage of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008 the funding and policy decision landscape changed significantly. The growth of public resources to support parks and trails of regional and statewide significance has increased opportunities for a robust, interconnected system. Yet, at the same time it has also increased competition for these resources and given rise to a false dichotomy that pits investments in new park and trail opportunities against investments in current parks and trails. As an independent organization with a statewide perspective, P&TC is positioned as an important link among a variety of partners and stakeholders.

In the coming years, P&TC has the unique opportunity to be even more visible and influential. The organization is already recognized for its expertise and accomplishment in land acquisition, as well as for being the public voice for state parks and trails. One component of the strategic planning process was an extensive environmental scan with key stakeholders who identified ample opportunities for partnerships to advance the vision of an interconnected system of natural areas. The strategic direction set forth below builds on these opportunities while ensuring P&TC invests in its organizational assets to achieve its mission of acquiring, protecting and enhancing critical land for the public's use and benefit.

ACQUIRE AND PROTECT LAND
Building on a long legacy of success in acquiring land for Minnesota's parks and trails, we continue to add critical land each year. In 2021 we purchased land for William O'Brien State Park and Goodhue Pioneer State Trail. Since its founding, Parks & Trails Council has helped to add over 9,000 acres to parks and trails in Minnesota.

ADVOCATE
Each year, Parks & Trails Council makes its voice heard at the state capital in defense of Minnesota's parks and trails. In 2021 we successfully advocated for state parks and trails to receive necessary funding without having to resort to onerous fees that inequitably affect people experiencing lower incomes. This issue gets at the heart of who we are as an organization—a staunch advocate for parks and trails as a common good; as essential to a healthy and prosperous Minnesota.

We also continue our steadfast defense of state parks from the detrimental effects of off-highway vehicles (OHVs). State Parks are precious places where the natural environment is managed to allow wildlife and plants to thrive. As lobbyists for OHVs press to remove restrictions from state parks, we offer a steadfast defense in ensuring they remain in place.

ENGAGE AND EMPOWER
We actively engage the broad community of friends group volunteers in being caretakers for Minnesota's parks and trails. In 2021 we had 55 friends group partners who regularly work with us to undertake initiatives such as habitat restoration and the construction of nature play areas for youth to gain an appreciation for these special places.