Subdivision 1. Definition. For purposes of this section, "unit of government" means a county, statutory or home rule charter city, or town.
Subd. 2. Parks and outdoor recreation areas. (a) The commissioner shall administer a program to provide grants to units of government for up to 50 percent of the costs of acquisition and betterment of public land and improvements needed for parks and other outdoor recreation areas and facilities, including costs to create veterans memorial gardens and parks.
(b) For units of government outside the metropolitan area as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, the local match required for a grant to acquire or better a regional park or regional outdoor recreation area is $2 of nonstate money for each $3 of state money.
Subd. 3. [Repealed by amendment, 1995 c 220 s 68]
Subd. 4. [Repealed by amendment, 1995 c 220 s 68]
Subd. 4a. Natural and scenic areas. The commissioner shall administer a program to provide grants to units of government and school districts for the acquisition and betterment of natural and scenic areas such as blufflands, prairies, shorelands, wetlands, and wooded areas. A grant may not exceed 50 percent or $500,000, whichever is less, of the costs of acquisition and betterment of land acquired under this subdivision. The commissioner shall make payment to a unit of government upon receiving documentation of reimbursable expenditures.
Subd. 4b. Regional trails. The commissioner shall administer a program to provide grants to units of government for acquisition and betterment of public land and improvements needed for trails outside the metropolitan area deemed to be of regional significance according to criteria published by the commissioner. Recipients must provide a nonstate cash match of at least 25 percent of total eligible project costs. If land used for the trails is not in full public ownership, then the recipients must prove it is dedicated to the purposes of the grants for at least 20 years. The commissioner shall make payment to a unit of government upon receiving documentation of reimbursable expenditures. A unit of government may enter into a lease or management agreement for the trail, subject to section 16A.695.
Subd. 4c. Trail connections. The commissioner shall administer a program to provide grants to units of government for acquisition and betterment of public land and improvements needed for trails that connect communities, trails, and parks and thereby increase the effective length of trail experiences. Recipients must provide a nonstate cash match of at least 25 percent of total eligible project costs. If land used for the trails is not in full public ownership, then the recipients must prove it is dedicated to the purposes of the grants for at least 20 years. The commissioner shall make payment to a unit of government upon receiving documentation of reimbursable expenditures. A unit of government may enter into a lease or management agreement for the trail, subject to section 16A.695.
Subd. 5. Powers; rules. The commissioner has all powers necessary and convenient to implement this section, including the authority to adopt rules for the program under chapter 14.
Subd. 6. Administering grants. Up to 2.5 percent of appropriations for grants under this section from revenue deposited in the natural resources fund under section 297A.94, paragraph (h), clause (4), may be used by the commissioner for the actual costs of administering the grants.
1993 c 172 s 35; 1994 c 643 s 48; 1995 c 220 s 68; 1996 c 407 s 35; 1998 c 404 s 35; 1999 c 231 s 102-104; 2000 c 492 art 1 s 40; 2002 c 393 s 42,43; 2005 c 20 art 1 s 31; 2006 c 258 s 32; 2011 c 107 s 37,38; 1Sp2021 c 6 art 2 s 32
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 85 - 87A — Recreation
Chapter 85 — Division Of Parks And Recreation
Section 85.0115 — Notice Of Additions And Deletions.
Section 85.013 — State Recreation Areas And Waysides.
Section 85.014 — Prior Laws Not Altered; Revisor's Duties.
Section 85.0145 — Acquiring Land For Facilities.
Section 85.0146 — Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area; Citizens Advisory Council.
Section 85.015 — State Trails.
Section 85.0155 — Lake Superior Water Trail.
Section 85.0156 — Mississippi Whitewater Trail.
Section 85.016 — Bicycle Trail Program.
Section 85.017 — Trail Registry.
Section 85.018 — Trail Use; Vehicles Regulated, Restricted.
Section 85.019 — Local Recreation Grants.
Section 85.021 — Acquiring Land; Minnesota Valley Trail.
Section 85.04 — Enforcement Division Employees.
Section 85.045 — Adopt-a-park Program.
Section 85.0505 — Food And Beverage Service In State Parks.
Section 85.0506 — Lake Vermilion-soudan Underground Mine State Park; Hoists.
Section 85.052 — Uses Of State Parks; Fees.
Section 85.053 — State Park Permits.
Section 85.054 — State Park Permit Exemptions.
Section 85.055 — State Park Permit Fees.
Section 85.056 — State Parks And Trails Donation Account.
Section 85.06 — Schoolhouses In Certain State Parks.
Section 85.10 — [Alexander Ramsey State Park transferred to Redwood Falls, 1957 c 230]
Section 85.16 — [Oronoco Park conveyed to Olmsted County, 1965 c 810 s 9]
Section 85.20 — Violations Of Rules; Littering; Penalties.
Section 85.205 — Receptacles For Recycling.
Section 85.22 — State Parks Working Capital Account.
Section 85.23 — Cooperative Leases Of Agricultural Lands.
Section 85.32 — State Water Trails.
Section 85.33 — St. Croix Wild River Area; Limitations On Power Boating.
Section 85.34 — Fort Snelling Lease.
Section 85.41 — Cross-country-ski Passes.
Section 85.42 — User Fee; Validity.
Section 85.43 — Disposition Of Receipts; Purpose.
Section 85.44 — Cross-country-ski Trail Grant-in-aid Program.
Section 85.47 — Special-use Permits; Fees.
Section 85.51 — Planning; Coordination.
Section 85.52 — Grants; Priorities.
Section 85.53 — Parks And Trails Fund.
Section 85.535 — Parks And Trails Grant Program.
Section 85.536 — Greater Minnesota Regional Parks And Trails Commission.