DNR prepares to invest $35 million in many parks access features statewide

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is launching a major, statewide effort to expand access and improve accessibility across Minnesota's outdoor recreation system, supported by $35 million from the Get Out MORE initiative. Part of a historic $149.9 million investment approved in 2023, these improvements will modernize facilities in state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas so people of all abilities can more easily enjoy outdoor activities.

More than 100 projects are planned. A significant portion of the funding—$15 million—will support accessibility upgrades in state parks and wildlife management areas. Three parks—William O'Brien, Sibley, and Fort Snelling—will receive comprehensive, park-wide accessibility improvements, while other parks will see smaller updates. Over 70 projects will enhance trails, hunting blinds, and overlooks in wildlife management areas to ensure they are fully accessible.

The initiative also includes improvements to roads and trails, with nearly $9.4 million dedicated to modernizing more than 35 access roads and $8 million to upgrading hiking and paved trails at state parks and hunter walking trails statewide. Another $2 million will improve signage, maps, and wayfinding, including updated state forest maps that can be downloaded for offline use.

To further support inclusive outdoor recreation, $1 million will fund adaptive equipment such as track chairs, accessible hunting blinds, mobile hunting stands, adaptive kayaking accessories, and glasses that help visitors with red-green color deficiencies better see natural colors.

Commissioner Sarah Strommen noted that these investments reflect Minnesota's commitment to ensuring people of all abilities can enjoy a world-class outdoor recreation system. Additional project details will continue to be shared on the DNR's Get Out MORE webpage.