Jan. 13—ROCHESTER — Quarry Hill Park and Nature Center in Rochester is set to receive $477,276 in funding for improvements, enhancing the visitor experience for those who enjoy nature and hands-on science education.
The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) recently completed its review and selected Quarry Hill Park, along with 13 other parks and trails, to receive a share of $13.5 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2026. The Minnesota Legislature must approve these recommendations through the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund, created by the 2008 Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Since the fund is dedicated solely to regional and statewide parks, it has been approved annually by the Legislature.
“We are grateful to be selected for this grant, which will help us improve accessibility, protect cultural resources, add interpretive signage and enhance safety at Quarry Hill,” said Park Planner Jeff Feece in a press release. “These improvements will further strengthen Quarry Hill as a place for learning, teaching and recreation.”
“Every grant awardee is very deserving, and we commend them for how thoroughly they described their needs in their grant applications,” said GMRPTC Chair Rick Anderson in the release. “It’s the dedicated people at the local level who make Greater Minnesota’s parks and trails really shine, and we’re pleased to assist them with their efforts.”
GMRPTC Executive Director Renee Mattson noted that additional funding would be allocated for environmental and archaeological reviews and accessibility improvements across 80 designated parks and trails in Greater Minnesota. Final funding amounts will be confirmed after the February 2025 Minnesota Management and Budget forecast.
“Legacy Funding is a powerful tool created by Minnesotans through their own tax dollars,” added Anderson. “Without it, many of these projects would not happen or would take years to complete.”
Since 2014, the GMRPTC has awarded nearly $100 million in grants, matched by nearly $40 million in local investments, to support regional parks and trails across Greater Minnesota. Grants are used for infrastructure improvements, land acquisitions, facility development, trail rehabilitation and more.