The state of Minnesota appropriates money under Minn. Stat. § 473.351 to support the operation and maintenance of waters, lands, and facilities that are part of the regional parks system.
Read the 2025 Operations and Maintenance Legislative Report.
Fund source
Operation and maintenance funds are appropriated from two sources:
Agency shares / allocation
The Met Council distributes all operation and maintenance funding to the regional park agencies according to a formula in
Minn. Stat. § 473.351:
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40% based on each agency’s proportion of total regional system visits as estimated in the Council’s annual use estimates
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40% based on each agency’s proportion of total regional system operation and maintenance expenditures in the previous calendar year
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20% based on each agency’s proportion of total regional system land acreage, with park reserve resource management land divided by four and excluding the acreage for any facilities the Council considers inconsistent with Recreation Activities and Facilities — Strategy 1 of the 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan, including enterprise facilities