About Us
Three Rivers Park District is a natural resources-based park system located in the suburban Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area of Minnesota that manages nearly 27,000 acres of park reserves, regional parks, regional trails and special-use facilities.
The Park District offers facilities for every season, including: picnicking, swimming, creative play, boating, fishing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, golf, camping and sledding; extensive trails for hiking, biking, in-line skating, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as program sites for nature, recreation, historic and farm education.
Three
Rivers Park District is an independent, special park district established
by the State Legislature in 1957. As a special park district, Three
Rivers Park District is charged with the responsibilities of acquisition,
development and maintenance of large park reserves, regional parks and
regional trails for the benefit and use of the citizens of suburban
Hennepin County, Scott County, the metropolitan areas, and the State
of Minnesota.
The Park District works cooperatively with the Metropolitan Parks
and Open Space Commission, Metropolitan Council and State Legislature
as one of ten implementing agencies of the Metropolitan Regional Park
System. This system of parks was established in 1974 by the Minnesota
State Legislature and collectively serves more than 33 million park
guests per year in the seven county metro area, providing outdoor education/recreation
facilities, services and programs.
The Park District operates nearly 27,000 acres of park reserves,
regional parks and special use areas, which attract more than five
million visitors each year. It provides an array of regional park facilities
including three nature centers, four golf courses, two downhill ski and snowboard areas,
snow-tubing hill, extensive trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross-country
skiing, as well as areas for camping, swimming, fishing/boating, picnicking,
and snowshoeing.
Our Mission
The mission of Three Rivers Park District is to promote environmental
stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based
park system.
About The Three Rivers
Each of the Park District's facilities is located within watersheds that flow into three rivers -- the Mississippi, Minnesota and Crow. These rivers have historically been, and continue to be, significant in the lives of the region's residents.
Environmental Focus
Three Rivers Park District's policy for planning and management of natural
resources has distinguished it from other park and recreation agencies
in Minnesota. The policy specifies that no more than 20 percent of a
park reserve may be developed for active use, and that at least 80 percent
of a park reserve shall be restored to and retained in a natural state.
As a result, the Park District has been actively involved in the preservation
and restoration of wildlife and plant species. Once rare osprey, bald
eagles, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans are now nesting in the park
reserves. Woodland and prairie restorations have been accomplished using
native wildflowers, shrubs and trees produced from seed collected in
the park reserves. Learn more about the Park District's Forestry, Wildlife
and Water Quality Natural Resources Management programs.
Park visitors are offered abundant opportunities to view and learn about the resources within each park. Careful routing of bike, hike and ski trails provides intimate views of woodlands, wetlands and prairie, as well as the wildlife that inhabit them. Outdoor education staff offer an array of programs that foster a better understanding of our environment.
|
