Upper Sioux Agency State Park and others turned over to tribal community.
DNR received $149.9 million for its Get Out More Initiative from the legislators. Ann Pierce, the DNR Director of Parks and Trails Division transferring from the Water Division, wants to spend the money on enhancing access and modernizing boat access, enhancing fisheries and fishing infrastructure, and restoring streams and modernizing water-related infrastructure. Nothing mentioned for equestrian use.
DNR received historic operating and capital budgets totaling more than $550 million. However, DNR Commission, Sarah Strommen said there will be a roundtable discussion on January 19 about stable and predictable base funding (on the table-raising licenses and fees).
Since 2001, MTRA has written and received Federal Recreational Trail Grant Program (FRTP) funds. There is millions of dollars involved and 10s of thousands paid by MTRA members. There is a lot of detail shared in the February – March 2024 newsletter. The DNR is the administering agency in Minnesota and refuses to give MTRA a contract. MTRA has six (6) years of grants open. What is behind the contract refusal?