Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Grant Awards from the Metropolitan Council for Legacy Amendment Parks and Trails Fund Projects
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Metropolitan Council for Parks and Trails Legacy Amendment funding for regional park projects for State Fiscal Year 2026.
2. Accept grant awards and approve grant agreements with the Metropolitan Council for Legacy Amendment Parks and Trails Fund projects for the periods of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029, in the total amounts of $1,890,775 for State Fiscal Year 2026.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreements.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements for the use of grant funds and amendments to such agreements, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant, in accordance with the county's procurement policies and procedures, and in a form approved by the County Attorney's Office.
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Background and Rationale
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Minnesota Management and Budget has budgeted an appropriation of $51,320,000 from the Legacy Amendment Parks and Trails Fund for the Metropolitan Council to provide grants to the Regional Park implementing agencies for State Fiscal Years (SFY) 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2029). The funding allocation is based on a statutory formula. Ramsey County has been allocated $1,890,775 for SFY 2026.
Ramsey County Parks and Recreation includes the anticipated Legacy project funding requests in the county’s six-year Capital Improvement Program Plan, although project priorities are subject to change. The following projects were submitted to the Metropolitan Council as Legacy funding requests for SFY 2026, as outlined in the following chart:
Park, Trail, or Project Description SFY 2026
Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trails System $75,000
• Outreach for nature and outdoor recreation-based
programming for people of low income and people of color
Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trails System $120,000
• Conservation Corps of MN
Bald Eagle Otter Lakes Regional Park $65,000
• Volunteer Corps for Tamarack Nature Center
and Discovery Hollow
Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trail $20,000
• System-wide Off-leash Dog Area Improvements
Ramsey County Regional Parks and Trails System $100,000
• Regional Park and Trail Sign Implementation
Vadnais- Snail Lakes Regional Park $1,510,775
• Trail Enhancement & Site Improvements
Total Parks and Trails Legacy Amendment Funding $1,890,775
The approved grant funds for SFY 2026 were available for use beginning July 1, 2025, and will have a grant period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029.
Funding through the Legacy program provides improvements to the regional parks and trails within Ramsey County. The projects create safe places, build a sense of community, protect, restore, and preserve the environment. Certain project plans will offer opportunities for community engagement during the development phases.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The six legacy funded projects meet a variety of residents’ needs throughout the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation system. While a racial equity lens is applied during the project prioritization process, certain projects have a greater racial equity impact than others. The outreach position for nature and outdoor recreation is predominately dedicated to connecting with underserved residents to introduce them to the parks system and to provide meaningful and welcoming facilitated experiences. The development improvement projects will incorporate a wide variety of community engagement tools to reach and connect with residents who have not had a strong voice in the parks planning process. The collective slate of projects advances the county’s racial equity work and serve as investments to increase the quality of life for all Ramsey County residents.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Initial community participation was conducted through the process of developing long range plans for these regional parks and trails. Projects identified with these grants will require additional participation with residents for specific design elements and site amenities. Several steps will be taken to involve residents through community meetings at the time the projects start.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Funding provided through the Legacy Amendment grant funding allows for park and trail development and programming in the Regional Park System. The legacy grants for outdoor nature programming, Minnesota Conversation Corps, and volunteer coordinator are included in parks operation budget. Funding amounts for FY 2026 ($1,890,775) are slightly lower than previous legacy grant periods which have ranged between $1.4 million to $2.4 million, however these amounts do fluctuate and have been increasing over several grant periods. The county is responsible for ongoing maintenance costs for new development after the projects are completed. The ongoing grant funding of projects that include personnel have been included in the 2026 operating budgets. The other funding has been included as an estimate amount in the Capital Improvement Program Plan.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. 2026 Parks and Trails Legacy Amendment Grants