Guess who’s a Regional Park now?

Big news: Prairie Woods is officially a Greater Minnesota Regional Park!

After years of planning, growing, and dreaming big — we’ve been recognized as one of just 82 designated regional parks across the state!

That means:

We’re part of a statewide system of parks and trails
We’re now eligible for Legacy funding
And most importantly, we’re being recognized for doing what we love — connecting people to nature through education, recreation, and conservation

This designation is a huge step forward — not just for Prairie Woods, but for the entire community. It celebrates you, too: the schools, families, members, volunteers, partners, and supporters who make this place what it is.

Every season, every step — now part of Minnesota’s Regional Park system!

Join the Community

We’d love to hear what Prairie Woods means to you. Reply to this email and share your stories, memories, or ideas.

Now’s the perfect time to become a member.

Regional Park status means we’re growing — and your support keeps it going. Your membership helps keep trails open, programs running, and nature accessible for all.

Join or Renew Today.

See you on the trails,

—The PWELC Team

Designated by:

Located on Kandiyohi County-owned land:

Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center Trail Map

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) announced that Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center has achieved regional designation in the classification of Natural Resource Based Park.

The GMRPTC was formed in 2013 by the Minnesota Legislature to develop a statewide system of regionally significant parks and trails outside the seven-county metropolitan area.

Successful applicants for regional designation undergo a stringent review process to ensure the application meets the criteria and high standards set by the Commission.

The procedure by which a facility, in this case Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center, is designated includes:

Application for designation by a city, county, or Tribal government in Greater Minnesota
Review of the application and a site visit by the Commission’s consultant team to further ensure all criteria and standards have been met
Review and ranking of the application by an independent Evaluation Team
If an applicant achieves a ranking of High, an invitation to submit a qualified Master Plan which is reviewed by the consultants and the Evaluation Team
Approval and designation by the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission

“The Commission is pleased to add Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center into the Greater Minnesota System” stated Rick Anderson, Chair of the Commission. “Our designation process is thorough and methodical to ensure applicants meet our criteria to provide a high quality recreational experience of lasting value to all Minnesotans.”

Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center is the 82nd regionally designated facility in the Greater Minnesota System which encompasses the 80 counties outside the seven-county metropolitan area.

For more information about the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission visit:

Gmrptcommission.org