Parks and Trails

The region's parks, trails and open spaces enhance livability and quality of life by supporting recreation, social connection, and mental and physical health. They also provide environmental benefits by preserving habitat, managing stormwater, and reducing pollution.

  • Regional System: The 2050 Regional Parks and Trails Policy Plan guides the Regional Parks and Trails System which was established by the Legislature in 1974 and managed by ten regional park agencies in partnership with the Met Council.
  • Broader Recreation Network: The regional system works alongside local, state, federal, private, and nonprofit parks and open spaces—all of which should be acknowledged in your comprehensive plan as essential to outdoor recreation and community vitality.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum requirements are the baseline elements every community must include in their comprehensive plan. They ensure consistency and compliance with state law, and alignment with regional policy. These requirements create a foundation that allows local plans to reflect community priorities while supporting regional goals.  For more information about minimum requirements, click here.

Using the table

  • Filter: by community, policy topic area, or explore new/updated requirements for the 2050 planning cycle.
  • Ref No: Each requirement has a unique identifier. Gaps in numbering mean certain regional requirements do not apply to your community.
  • Resources: provides tools, guides, and resources to help meet each requirement. Some requirements may appear more than once if multiple resources are available.

Your complete list of minimum requirements can also be downloaded directly from your Community Page.

 

Going Beyond the Minimum Requirements

Meeting the minimum requirements ensures that a comprehensive plan is complete and compliant, but communities that go further can create plans that are truly transformative. By moving beyond the basics, local governments can reflect local priorities, prepare for future challenges, and enhance the unique character of their communities while advancing equity, resilience, and quality of life for all residents. This section offers resources, advice, and best practices to help communities strengthen their plans and set a course toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant future. 

Dive into Regional Parks and Trails Policy

Explore Equity Data & Tools

Integrate Natural Resources & Land Use Planning

  • Include high quality natural resources as part of your local park and trail planning.
  • Address the linkage of local land use to local and regional parks and open space.

Track Recreation Trends & Preferences

Strengthen Connectivity

  • Locate pedestrian trail access within ¼ mile and bicycle trail access within 1 mile of residential or commercial destinations. See Minnesota Healthy Planning How-To Guide, p. 61
  • Consider people’s changing recreational preferences in planning your local parks. Evaluate population size and demographic characteristics to determine the specific needs for park space, proximity, access and community facilities that serve as the foundation for park systems.  See Minnesota Healthy Planning How-To Guide, p. 63

Promote Healthy Lifestyles

  • Prioritize parks and trails; they create opportunities for community members to increase their physical activity, which can improve mental health, decrease obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic disease.  See Minnesota Healthy Planning How-To Guide, p. 17
  • Take into account the value of tree canopy; preserving a healthy tree canopy can serve a number of public health benefits such providing shade on hot days, reduce heat island effects, improve air quality, improve water quality, improve livability and more.  See Minnesota Healthy Planning How-To Guide, p. 65