OBJECTIVE: Foster equity and belonging

The seven-county Twin Cities region has a world-renowned system of regional parks and trails that span seven-counties. The history of our region is complex and marred by systemic racism that at one time overtly limited certain people’s ability to choose where they live, work, and even recreate. The legacy of this history has had a profound impact on the people of our region and the implications of this racist past persist today. This reality has greatly informed who uses our Regional Parks and Trails System today and whether impacted communities feel welcomed.  

The partnership that makes up our Regional Parks and Trails System acknowledges this troubled history and is committed to reparative solutions through advancing equity and belonging in our work. We are committed to addressing and undoing structural and programmatic inequities across the metropolitan region. We believe in working with impacted communities to co-create solutions and shape a future where all people have a seat at the table to shape our collective future. We recognize that there is a lot of work to do, and we are committed to building a Regional Parks and Trails System where everyone feels a sense of belonging.