The Lac qui Parle County Park received official designation as a regional park through the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC). Achieving regional designation makes the park eligible for the Regional Parks and Trails Legacy funding program where an estimated 8 million dollars will be available annually.

The Lac qui Parle County Park completed their master plan in the spring of 2018. The UMVRDC and the landscape architect firm, Damon Farber, worked with the Lac qui Parle County Park Board to create the master plan. The plan shows that the first phase of projects the park board hopes to implement are the west entrance road, a bridge, and the park loop trail on the west side of the park. A future phase two includes the trailhead on the west side of the park, with a bathroom/shower building, parking, and lighting. Phase three includes more trail system improvements and additions.

The GMRPTC, created by the Minnesota Legislature in 2013, undertakes system planning and provides recommendations to the legislature for grants funded by the parks and trails fund, to counties and cities outside of the seven-county metropolitan area for parks and trails of regional significance. For more information on the GMRPTC and the designation and funding process please visit: www.gmrptcommission.org .

If you have questions about the regional park planning, you can contact Kristi at 320-289-1981, ext 106 or email Kristi.fernholz@umvrdc.org.

Clarkfield and Granite Falls received exciting news earlier this summer from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, notifying the communities that they were awarded Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) grants. The UMVRDC assisted both communities in their grant application process and will continue to work alongside Prairie Five Community Action in administering those grants.

Clarkfield's SCDP grant of $1,107,430 combined with funding from United States Department of Agriculture, the City of Clarkfield, and other programming funds, will provide an estimated $24 million in rehabilitation throughout the city. Fifteen owner occupied properties, five commercial properties, and the city's water tower will be included in this three-year project. In Granite Falls, $625,888 in SCDP grant funds will also be part of the $891,500 rehabilitation project. Eleven homes, seven single family rental properties, and six commercial properties will all benefit from the upcoming project.

The SCDP grant provides substantial benefits to communities by addressing slum and blight conditions, eliminating an urgent public health or safety issue, along with assisting households with low to moderate incomes. In addition to working with Clarkfield and Granite Falls, the UMVRDC is still working with the Cities of Benson, Clinton, Graceville, and Beardsley to complete their SCDP grants. Partnering with the Swift County Housing Redevelopment Authority and Prairie Five Community Action, the UMVRDC's efforts bring noticeable results to the region. If your community is interested in how the Small Cities Development Program could be utilized, please contact the UMVRDC to discuss that process.