Best Practices Capstone Event at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
May 22, 2007
The final event of the Best Practices for Parks and Outdoor Recreation project focused on key issues that were identified during the Best Practices project. Those issues are:

• Declining Participation in Outdoor Recreation
• Health & Outdoor Recreation
• Energy Efficiency & Green Design

Northeastern Minnesota Best Practices Workshop
April 11-12, 2007

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Ken Gilbertson, Associate Professor, UMD Health, Physical Education & Recreation shared his experiences in outdoor recreation in northeastern MN and helped us gain insights about how to ensure we are relevant to future generations of outdoor recreators.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Trends in Outdoor Recreation
Andy Holak, Forest Recreation Specialist, St. Louis County, presented the results of a recent recreation study of St. Louis County residents, focusing on residents' perspectives of outdoor recreation opportunities.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Jim Skurla, Business Development Specialist, UMD School of Economic/Business Administration, shared the results of a recently completed study of visitors to the North Shore. This study focused on the types of experiences visitors seek and value along the North Shore.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Tim Kelly, Research Analyst, Office of Management and Budget Services Minnesota Department of Natural Resources., presented on what the future holds for outdoor recreation in Minnesota, focusing on some recent trends from Minnesota studies and beyond.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Environmental Education Best Practices
Steve Robertsen, Naturalist and Interpreter, Forest Service and Molly Thompson, Sugarloaf Program Manager, Sugarloaf Cove, kicked off the group discussion regarding the past and future of environmental education and outreach in Northeastern Minnesota.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Amy Rager, University of MN, Morris and Dawn Flinn, MN DNR, talked about the Master Naturalist Program. This new volunteer program, a partnership between DNR and U of M Extension, works with parks, nature centers and other facilities to train adult volunteers in natural resources and then links them with service projects. View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Trails Presentation & Discussion Featuring: Jeff Schoenbauer, Executive Vice President & Senior Planner, Brauer & Associates and principle author of the newly released MN DNR trails manual. Jeff talked about the importance of designing and managing trails to reflect what different user groups value. He will also address how to provide quality user experiences in the midst of competing interests. An overview of the newly released DNR trails manual provided the framework for the discussion. View/Download Presentation (PDF)

The following people provided highlights of some of the trail work that is happening within their parklands:

Phil Leversedge, Manager, Tettegouche State Park
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Judy Ness, Recreation Specialist, Superior National Forest
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Kevin Johnson, Trail Development Specialist, DNR Division of Trails and Waterways
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Best Practices Regional Workshop at Owatonna Arts Center
February 7-8, 2007

Morning Keynote
Dr. Steven J. Taff, Associate Professor of Applied Economics, University of MN, discussed the changing role of government as it impacts how we pay for parks, trails and open space.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Trends in Outdoor Recreation
Joel Stedman, Regional Manager, Division of Parks and Recreation, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, presented what the future holds for outdoor recreation in Minnesota, focusing on some recent trends from Minnesota studies and beyond.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Obesity Epidemic - Parks and Recreation as a Key Part of the Solution
Aynsley Smith, Ph.D. Mayo Clinic Sports Psychology Department, talked about key ways parks, recreation, trails and natural space can be part of the solution in creating healthier lifestyles.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Transforming Your Energy Use for a Healthy Economy & Clean Environment
J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director, Fresh Energy, provided workshop participants with a broad understanding of energy sustainability, and challenge us with ways we can adopt practices that promote energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy within our parks, facilities and agencies
overall.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Energy Efficiency in Parks and Recreation Madonna Rykken, Account Executive, Johnson Controls and Ron Bastian, Director of Sports Facilities, Rochester Parks and Recreation, talked about Rochester's effort to become more energy efficient in their facilities. Hear how Rochester was able to tap into state legislation to creatively fund a $6 million dollar project.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Using Renewable Energy Minnesota State Parks
Richard Szydlowski, Director of Research and Engineering, Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), presented practical applications for energy efficiency in parks.
View/Download Presentation (PDF)

Itasca Regional Workshop
October 11-12, 2006

Workshop at a Glance….

Wednesday, October 11th Noon – 8:30 PM

1:00 – 1:30 Welcome & Workshop Kick-off 

1:30 – 2:00 Workshop Expectations

Outdoor Recreation Speakers
2: 00 – 2:45       

2:45 – 3:30        

3:30 – 4:00         Break

4:00 – 4:45        

4:45 – 5:30

6:00 – 7:30 Dinner at Douglas Lodge – see next page for further info!

7:30 – 8:30 Optional Roundtable at Douglas Lodge: Sharing Best Practices
Individuals who want to participate in a facilitated discussion about best practices are invited to attend. Participants are encouraged to think of best practices, tools or other innovations they are interested in discussing with other workshop attendees. Think of best practices as tools or practical guidelines that others can adopt in whole or in part – not rigid guidelines. This is your opportunity to share the work you are doing, challenges you face, and ideas you would like to share with other park and outdoor recreation professionals.

Thursday, October 12th 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

8:00 – 8:30 Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:30 Cross-Agency Case Studies – We will hear from two organizations about their approach to working collaboratively with a variety of key stakeholders – from city, county, state and federal agencies, as well as the public, to achieve the desired outcomes.

9:30 – 11:45       Working Groups – We will break out into working groups and delve deeper into the themes of cross-agency collaboration and creatively managing conflict. What are the challenges and opportunities facing us as outdoor recreation providers and what can we do to address those challenges and opportunities?  Presentation 1 | Presentation 2

11:45 – 12:30 Lunch

12:30 – 2:30       Open Space Event – In this session you will have the opportunity to identify issues and topics you wish to discuss with other workshop participants. Open Space is an innovative approach that ensures all participants are given the opportunity to discuss issues of greatest importance to them. 

2:30 – 3:30 Final Thoughts – What is your take-away from the workshop? What will you do differently as a result of having attended this workshop? 

Natural Resources Workshop
September 20-21, 2006

E85 and Biodiesel -- Home Grown Alternative Fuels
Tim Morse, Director, Minnesota Department of Administration’s Travel Management Division

Minnesota doesn’t have any oil wells. We import every drop. It doesn’t have to be this way. Minnesota is producing its own alternatives to gasoline and diesel that are better for the environment, renewable, support our local economy, and reduce foreign oil imports. At this session, delegates learned about biofuels like E85 and biodiesel that are available now and discuss topics like fueling infrastructure, vehicle performance, fuel supply, and energy balance. Click here for presentation

The DNR Trails Manual: An In-Depth Look
Jeff Schoenbauer, Senior Principal, Brauer & Associates, Ltd.

An overview of the new Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Trail Planning, Design, and Development Guidelines was presented at this session. The manual provides guidelines for developing sustainable motorized and nonmotorized trails within Minnesota. Extensive attention is given to developing trails that are physically, ecologically, and economically sustainable. A newly-developed trail classification system is described to enhance consistency in how different types of trails are planned and designed. The principles of trail design emphasize the art of designing trails to make them more visually appealing and enjoyable. Technical design guidelines for various types of trails are also extensively considered in the
manual. Click here to view manual--CAUTION! This is a very large file.

Tale of Two Counties: The Experiences of Washington and Dakota County in Developing, Funding, and Implementing Land Conservation Initiatives
Jane Harper, Principal Planner, Washington County; and Al Singer, Planner, Dakota County

In 2000, voters in Washington County narrowly defeated a bond referendum to generate $10 million in funds to acquire development right for open space protection. In 2002, Dakota County residents supported a $20 million referendum to protect farmland and natural areas after a four-year planning process. Now Washington County is going back to the ballot in 2006 for a new $20 million open space protection initiative. This session described lessons learned from planning and funding to managing and implementing county-wide land and natural resource protection. Presentation 1 | Presentation 2

Partnering with Conservation and Watershed Districts: What They Do and How We Can Work Together
Jay Riggs, District Manager, Washington Conservation District; and Cliff Aichinger, District Manager,
Ramsey Washington Watershed District

In this session delegates learned about natural resources that fall under the jurisdiction of watershed and conservation districts. We’ll explore examples of partnerships between park departments and these types of agencies – what has worked well, what can still be improved. Click here for presentation

Integration of GPS and GIS Technology with Natural Resources
Carol Carter, Natural Resources Specialist-Wildlife, Three Rivers Park District; Tim Loesch, GIS Operations Supervisor,
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; and John Elholm, Senior Planner, Washington County

In this session delegates learned about how to integrate high-technology Geographic Information System (GIS) into natural resources planning, data collection, PLUS increase communication between staff and the public. See how historical and on-going data is incorporated into a GIS system to generate maps of Blanding’s Turtle movement and the successional changes of a blow-down area over time. Hear how you can to collect Global Position System (GPS) data information using Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and how a web-based application connects information between data collectors, researchers, staff and the public. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Field Data Collection at the DNR

Alternative Landscape Management to Protect Water Resources
John M. Barten, Water Resources Manager, Three Rivers Park District

Soil compaction during urban development is a significant problem affecting both surface and groundwater resources in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA). Cone penetrometer readings obtained from lawns in the west TCMA suburbs show significant compaction of the upper soil layers, and impaired plant root growth. Turf establishment and maintenance on these compacted soils require the use of large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides, require excessive amounts of groundwater during summer months, increase the volume of rainfall runoff, and because of the greater pollutant availability, increase the rate of pollutant export. Recent research has demonstrated that turf areas export significant quantities of nutrients, particularly phosphorus to lakes and streams in urban area. Reducing soil compaction, therefore, needs to be a mandatory component of stormwater management in urban areas. This presentation addressed numerous strategies to reduce soil compaction during and after the land development process,
and discuss strategies to replace turf with deep-rooted plant species that will improve rainfall infiltration. These strategies have the long-term goal of reducing storm water runoff, reducing pollutant export from urban areas, and reducing the use of groundwater. Click here for presentation

Planning and Management of Landscapes in Recreation Areas
Tom Jahnke, Forestry/Horticulture Manager; and Jeff Warhol, Forestry Operations Supervisor, Three Rivers Park District

Three Rivers Park District owns and operates 28,000 acres of regional parks and trail corridors. Active use areas are managed for public recreation in 20% of the park reserves and all of the smaller regional parks and trail corridors. Active use areas have high recreational potential and represent areas where the most extensive and intensive recreation development and use will occur. The goal of the Park District is to provide a natural setting which is safe and attractive, while maintaining a durable landscape capable of withstanding intensive recreational use within planned capacities. This session will present an overview of the Three Rivers Park District’s Forestry Operations landscape management program. The presenters highlighted the District Nursery plant production operations including seed collection, plant propagation, cultivation practices, and harvesting. Planting, ongoing maintenance, and pest management practices will be discussed. The Park District shade tree management and hazardous tree program was also discussed.
Click here for presentation

Managing Shorelands for Healthy Lakes
John Hiebert, Shoreland Habitat Coordinator, Minnesota DNR Fish and Wildlife; Bill Bartodziej, District Biologist, Ramsey- Washington Metro Watershed District; and Angela Anderson, Landscape Architect, Minnesota DNR Trails and Waterways
This session addressed some key aspects of the ecology and management of healthy lakes, with a focus on shoreland management. What lessons are we learning about the emerging science of natural shoreland management? Leading innovators in this field shared their valuable experience and insights to help participants better understand and address the complex challenges associated with managing Minnesota’s lakes as healthy systems. Presentation 1 |
Presentation 2

Archery in Minnesota
Ryan Bronson, Hunter Recruitment and Retention Supervisor, DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife
Archery participation in Minnesota is at an all-time high, and shows signs of continued growth. The Minnesota DNR sponsored National Archery in the Schools Program introduced 40,000 Minnesota kids to target archery in 2006, and is set to increase by 50% in 2007. Ryan Bronson from the Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife discussed the basics of effective archery programming, reviewed some effective parks and recreation archery efforts in Minnesota, and provided information about financial support from Minnesota DNR for archery range development. Click here to view presentation

Creative Partnerships for Trails, Open Space, and Ecosystem Restoration
Steven P. Johnson, Chief of Resource Management; and Susan Overson, Landscape Architect/Park Planner, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area National Park Service
In a 54,000 acre National Park System unit where the National Park Service owns less than 40 acres of land and where the park runs through the heart of two large cities and 23 suburbs, any attempt at ecosystem restoration requires creative partnerships. Four unique and challenging case studies were presented during the first half of this session. One involved a park turned natural to treat stormwater just upstream of the drinking water intake for more than a million people. Another involved erosion control on private land that converted a planned riprap project into a native plant restoration project. A third removed exotic species in a small community’s park and brought back a state-endangered plant. The fourth involved using
Corps of Engineers navigation maintenance dollars to protect and restore one of the few islands actually owned and managed by NPS.

The second portion of this session focused on the Trails and Open Space Partnership, which represents over 50 agencies and organizations working together to achieve the trail and open space visions of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. This model partnership has acquired over $50 million in 10 years and developed a database of open space protection opportunities and their ecological value. Presentation 1 | Presentation 2

Bringing the Battle to Buckthorn
Dan Shaw, Conservation Director, Great River Greening; and John Moriarty, Natural Resources Manager, Ramsey County Parks Department

It’s no secret! Buckthorn is attempting to overtake our native forests! This session took a look at successful techniques to control this woody nemesis. Presenters also talked about some lesser known threats to our forest. Do you feel buckthorn has already won the battle? The session explored ways to engage the community in efforts to ‘slay this dragon.’ They also discussed how to create long-term ‘combat’ management plans. It’s time to wage war on buckthorn and find out how your community can be part of the solution. Click here to view presentation