OBJECTIVE: Meet future needs

To prepare for the projected growth and use, the Met Council will work closely with our 10 regional park implementing agencies to acquire existing park and trail in-holdings, and we will identify new opportunities for future expansion. As our population becomes more diverse and the proportionate share of the population over 65 years nearly doubles, we must adapt our facilities and park offerings to remain relevant to changing expectations and needs. Bridging facilities, a relatively new idea to the regional system, are intended to attract and introduce new visitors to our regional parks and trails. This type of facility may become more prevalent as we continue to innovate to meet new needs. 

In areas with limited land availability, protecting and preserving natural systems will become more challenging and will require more creativity. Some of the best conservation opportunities may include protecting regional “greenway” corridors that provide natural systems benefits for people and wildlife. Finding corridors that connect larger landscapes will increase their natural systems value, but with limited opportunities, our approaches will need to adapt and will require more partnerships across public and private sectors and new sources of funding. Parks and trails professionals will need to reach beyond their current relationships and knowledge base to innovate and grow as we collectively strive to meet our region’s challenging and exciting future.