DIVISION OF Parks and trails Amy Barrett, Public Information Officer Wade Miller, Brainerd Area Supervisor

Transcription

1 DIVISION OF Parks and trails Amy Barrett, Public Information Officer Wade Miller, Brainerd Area Supervisor

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4 The DNR s Division of Parks and Trails Manages: 76 state parks and recreation areas 25 state trails (620 paved miles) 33 state water trails (4,528 miles) 1,500 public water accesses 350 fishing piers 62 state forest campgrounds and day-use areas 946 snowmobile trails miles (state) And more

5 What s new

6 2012 in Review: What s new Brown s Creek State Trail

7 2012 in Review: What s new La Salle Lake State Recreation Area

8 Jay Cooke State Park 2012 in Review: What s new

9 2012 in Review: What s new Willard Munger State Trail

10 2012 in Review: What s new Tettegouche State Park

11 Lake Vermilion State Park 2012 in Review: What s new

12 2012 in Review: What s new

13 Crow Wing State Park 2012 in Review: What s new

14 Attendance Is Up

15 2007 Research Focus Group Study Visitor Survey (V) Household Survey (H)

16 Motivations (V) All Visitors 1. To have fun (85%) 2. Enjoy natural scenery (80%) Next Generation 1. To have fun (90.2%) 2. Enjoy natural scenery (79.6%) 3. Get away from life's usual demands (74.5%) 3. Spend time with family (78.4%) 4. Enjoy smells and sounds of nature (70.6%) 5. Spend time with family (70.3%) 4. Get away from life s usual demands (76.5%) 5. Enjoy smells and sounds of nature (69.3%)

17 High Barriers to Visiting Minnesota State Parks (H) Perceived lack of time Competing leisure activities

18 Other Barriers to Visiting Minnesota State Parks (H) Crowding in the parks Lack of money Lack of information Lack of outdoor skills Park offerings Fears and personal discomfort Health problems

19 If we did it as a child, we re more likely to do it as an adult (H) High Association Visiting state or national parks Hiking/backpacking Camping Canoeing/kayaking

20 High service items are of great interest (H) I d visit, or visit more often, if: I could find park programs for my child/children. The park had equipment I could use or rent. I could attend special events in the park. I had the opportunity to take virtual tours of the park on a website. I could attend programs to develop outdoor skills.

21 2012 Legacy Highlights: Connect People to the Outdoors

22 Connecting people to the outdoors: Virtual tours

23 Program Development Loaner equipment Fishing kits Birding kits Kids Discovery kits GPS units

24 Program Development Geocaching History Challenge Wildlife Safari Avian Adventure

25 Connecting people to the outdoors: Geocaching

26 Program Development I Can! series Camp Paddle Climb Fish Archery in the Parks

27 Participants Outreach to New Visitors Has Been Successful Annual Participation at I Can! Programs I Can Paddle! I Can Climb! I Can Camp! Year

28 Attendance Is Up

29 Division of Parks and Trails: Return to the economy Of the Minnesota State Parks visitors who are on an overnight trip away from home: 31% stayed in a Minnesota state park at least one night. 20% stayed in a campground outside of the park. 47% stayed at a private resort/hotel or inn.

30 42% of Minnesota state park visitors come from the metro area

31 18% of Minnesota state park visitors come from outside Minnesota

32 Division of Parks and Trails: Return to the economy State Park return to the economy (2010): Day visitors... $26.23/person/day Overnight visitors... $23.16/person/day Visitors to Minnesota s state parks contribute $280 million in total spending in local economies.

33 Division of Parks and Trails: Return to the economy In 2008, recreational trail users contributed $2.4 billion in total spending and $206 million in state and local taxes, and accounted for 31,000 jobs in Minnesota.

34 Top Tourism Attractions by Region

35 Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area Annual attendance at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area Attendance

36 Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area

37 Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area

38 Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area

39 Division of Parks and Trails: History of Expenditures Parks and Trails Expenditures by Fund ($ in thousands) $120,000 $100,000 $80,000 $60,000 $40,000 $20,000 Parks and Trails Fund Environmental Trust Fund Federal Fund Special Revenue Funds Natural Resources Fund Game & Fish Fund General Fund $0 General Fund decreasing over time Natural Resources Fund consists of dedicated accounts, which fund specific activities In FY02, State Parks Account established in Natural Resources Fund ENRTF was one-time funding for FY12 and FY13

40 Division of Parks and Trails: History of General Fund 40,000.0 General Fund $ in Thousands 35, , , ,000.0 General Fund 15, , , FY 00 FY 01 FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 FY 07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12

41 Parks and Trails Budget Park and trail use is up, but funding is flat. Legacy funding must be used wisely. It was intended to supplement, not supplant, existing funding. It is only guaranteed through Dedicated funds must be used for purposes specified in statute. To sustain current levels of service, Minnesota state parks are depending on the General Fund appropriation recommended by the Governor.

42 Connecting people to the outdoors: Discounted park permits

43 Connecting people to the outdoors: Park and trail publications

44 50 th Anniversary: Minnesota State Water Trails

45 50 th Anniversary: Minnesota State Water Trails

46 50 th Anniversary: Minnesota State Water Trails Crow Wing River State Water Trail Mississippi River State Water Trail Long Prairie River State Water Trail Pine River State Water Trail

47 Connecting people to the outdoors: Maps, video and virtual tours

48 Connecting people to the outdoors: Maps and virtual tours

49 In Summary I was anticipating having to close my doors in 2009, but I knew that the mountain bike trails were going to open at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area in 2010, so I hung in there for one more year, and what s happened since then has been unbelievable. My business has more than doubled. Jenny Smith, owner since 2005, Cycle Path & Paddle, Crosby

50 In Summary "We opened in 2005, across the road from the Paul Bunyan State Trail. After the trail was paved from Walker to Guthrie in 2010, we added a shuttle service for bikers, and since then our business has nearly tripled." Charlyne LaVoie, co-owner with Dennis LaVoie, Embracing Pines Bed and Breakfast, Walker

51 Questions?