More visitors lead metro parks system to ask for more money

Officials from the Metropolitan Regional Park System are seeking an increase of more than $3 million during the upcoming biennium for operations and maintenance costs needed to help keep more than 50 parks and 400 miles of trails open and running smoothly around the Twin Cities.

The House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee learned more Tuesday morning about a bill that would provide the funding. Sponsored by Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar), HF946 would provide $4.5 million for operation and maintenance of the system during each year of the 2016-17 biennium, an increase of $1.63 million from the current annual funding level of $2.87 million.

Steve Sullivan, Dakota County parks director, said the additional funds are needed because the system has been growing in response to a surge in users.

“The reason that we’re here, asking for a modest increase, is that there has been growth in the system,” Sullivan said.

Visitation to the parks system has “skyrocketed,” according to Sullivan, rising from 33.4 million annual visits in 2005 to more than 47 million in 2014. New parks, trails and facilities have been added to meet the increased demand, leading to increased operating costs.

“What (the additional money) will do is it will keep our doors open, will allow for stewardship of natural resources and also keep our facilities and the services provided at them at the current level,” Sullivan said.

Ten implementing agencies would get a share of the $3.25 million appropriation increase:

• Three Rivers Park Dist.    ($956,484)
• Minneapolis Park Board  ($720,786)
• City of St. Paul                    ($574,086)
• Ramsey County                 ($300,246)
• Anoka County                    ($265,690)
• Dakota County                   ($165,282)
• Washington County          ($132,030)
• Scott County                       ($49,878)
• Carver County                    ($46,618)
• City of Bloomington           ($37,490)

Boe Carlson, Three Rivers Park District superintendent, said the percentage of funding each agency receives is defined in statute and determined by visitations, acreage and agency budgets.

“It’s a good situation to be in,” Carlson said. “When you look at some other parks and trails and natural resource areas, we are seeing a decline in visitation. We, on the other hand are seeing a tremendous increase in that visitation.”

The companion, SF378, is sponsored by Sen. Foung Hawj (DFL-St. Paul) and awaits action by the Senate Finance Committee.