Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Resolution to Support Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund Grant Application
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Recommendation
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1. Adopt a resolution to support and authorize the Parks & Recreation department application to the Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund Grant Program for $450,000.
2. Authorize the Ramsey County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to agreements in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County Parks & Recreation is seeking an Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund (ENRTF) grant to help reduce disparities for those unable to access the benefits of nature education. Nature education is the foundation of the county’s strategic priority of responding to climate change and increasing community resilience.
This grant will:
1. Support an outreach specialist at Tamarack Nature Center.
2. Continue to develop culturally relevant and inclusive curriculum events at Tamarack Nature Center.
3. Expand on current partnerships, such as Saint Paul Public Schools and develop new partnerships.
4. Expand and extend current Legacy Amendment-funded programming of Dakota artists-in-residence Marlena Myles and Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wíŋ, at Battle Creek Regional Park to include plant walks, nature education programming, and medicinal plant workshops through an Indigenous lens.
5. Engage Marlena Myles and Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wíŋ as consultants to develop open-source nature interpretive signage through an Indigenous lens to be used by any Minnesota park agency.
6. Install nature interpretive signage at Battle Creek and Tamarack Nature Center.
In order to apply for and accept the ENRTF monies, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources requires a board resolution and signed resolution letter from the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. This acknowledges that Parks & Recreation resources will be used in the project management and ongoing maintenance of the signage. The Interpretative Signage project requires a county match of $18,750. Programming activities, which account for $375,000 of the grant ask, do not require a county match.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Research has shown a significant disparity between white and racially & ethnically diverse populations in terms of park usage and access to nature education. The goal of the department is to welcome underserved populations into the park system and to reduce the gap in access and education.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Current partnerships with Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) bring nearly all SPPS preschoolers to Tamarack Nature Center for their early childhood education as well as the partnership with artists-in-residence and community leaders Marlena Myles and Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wíŋ, have been instrumental in understanding needs of community and finding collaborative ways to fill in the gaps.
A strong desire and need for nature interpretive signage and programming was a common theme in the 2019 - 2020 community engagement results from the Battle Creek long-range plan.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
This grant would provide additional funding for programming and events, as well as the development of interpretive signage. The $75,000 grant request for installation of interpretive signage requires a 25% cost share of $18,750, which will come from already apportioned Capital Improvement Program funds for park signage as well as Legacy Amendment funds dedicated to the same purpose. Programming activities, which account for $375,000 of the grant request, do not require a county match.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. 2026 ENRTF Request for Proposal
2. Supporting Letter of Resolution