The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) recently added two regionally-designated facilities to the Greater Minnesota system. Thanks to the work of SRF’s Landscape Architecture team, the Mille Lacs County Soo Line Trail and the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center in Kandiyohi County were both swiftly approved by the commission.
SRF assisted Mille Lacs County in the development of a master plan for the segment of the Soo Line Trail that runs through the county. The regional multiuse trail serves local and seasonal residents, tourists, and visitors, providing motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities during all four seasons.
Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center developed their master plan with the help of the SRF team as well. The 500-acre environmental education and outdoor recreation facility provides hands-on learning opportunities, 10+ miles of all-season trails, and event spaces, attracting regional residents, visitors, and outdoor enthusiasts.
Through careful analysis, input from several governmental agencies and the public, and a thorough implementation and operations plan, the resulting master plans easily met all the requirements necessary for designation by the GMRPTC. Both projects required extensive public engagement efforts that ensured the master plans truly meet the needs and expectations of the local communities they serve.