Met Council's parks plan gets a cool reception in suburbs

The Metropolitan Council's long-term policy plan for regional parks is drawing fire from some of the public agencies that own and operate the vast network of parks, trails and outdoor attractions in the metro area.

Commissioners of the Three Rivers Park District, the state's largest park system, say the Met Council has overstepped its bounds in its blueprint for regional parks.

Chief among Three Rivers' objections are Met Council directives that it will have more of a say in how park agencies spend their dollars in order to make regional park resources available to an increasingly diverse population.

"It's a nonelected body trying to wrestle control," said Daniel Freeman, vice chair of the Three Rivers Board. "It looks like a power grab."

The pushback by suburban park bodies is the latest sign of tension between the Met Council, a state-run body whose board members are appointed by the governor, and outer reaches of the metro area over the council's overall development plan, Thrive MSP 2040. Last month, five suburban counties took the unusual step of joining forces to criticize the transportation portion of the Thrive plan, saying it overlooked their needs.

Three Rivers Commissioner Penny Steele said the Met Council's eagerness to expand its traditional scope reminds her of "The Little Shop of Horrors," the musical story of a tiny plant that morphs into a giant and voracious Venus flytrap. "Who's gonna prune that plant?" she said. At a recent meeting, commissioners discussed whether to explore becoming less dependent on the council for funding.

The county boards of Dakota, Carver, Washington and Scott have yet to take formal positions on the regional parks plan, but officials from each say they share many of Three Rivers' concerns. They say they weren't given enough opportunity to weigh in when the Met Council was preparing the new policies.

"There has been no real meaningful dialogue with the Met Council," said Scott County administrator Gary Shelton. "It's a case of 'Here's what you have to do, and if you don't like it, tough.' "

A public hearing on the parks plan is set for Monday, and the Met Council is taking written comments on it until Oct. 30. The council is expected to vote in January.

The Met Council's plan, including steering funds to strengthen equitable access to park amenities, has gained favor with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. It expects to send the council a letter supporting many of the draft park plan's goals, including improving park and recreation features in north and northeast Minneapolis.

The regional park system includes more than 50 large open recreational spaces, including Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Minneapolis, Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan and the Lake Elmo Park Reserve. The network also has eight special recreation facilities, including St. Paul's Como Park Zoo.

Much of the new plan is similar to the Met Council's existing policy plan for regional parks, but the draft also calls for changes driven by changing demographics, said Jan Youngquist, Met Council parks planning analyst.

At the heart of suburban park agencies' objections is their view that they already have programs and practices in place to reach out to wider range of users, including communities of color. They also say they're in the best position to decide funding priorities to achieve equity goals because they have the expertise.

"The Met Council does not have that. It's not in a position to determine how to bring the greatest value for park users," said Steve Sullivan, parks director for Dakota County.

Three Rivers objects to the Met Council's plans to determine how park agencies spend Parks and Trails Legacy Funds. The fund program was created in 2008 as part of Minnesota's Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment.

While regional parks have other sources of money, such as property taxes, grants, private donations and user fees, Legacy funds are an important source. More than $30 million has been directed to regional park agencies in the past two fiscal years.

Under state law, the Met Council has been the agent that distributes the funds to the park bodies. In its new plan, the council envisions an expanded role starting in 2015, with it having some say in how the money is spent.

Three Rivers is skeptical and plans to review the state law.

In addition to the park agencies and the council, "other partners and stakeholders" would be involved in setting a minimum percentage of Legacy funds that should be used to "connect people with the outdoors," the council has said. That objective is part of the Parks and Trails Legacy Plan and has drawn support from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

A draft letter from the Dakota County Board says the idea of involving multiple parties "is not acceptable." The council's plan also doesn't say who the other parties will be. "We don't know who gets to come to the table," said Jonathan Vlaming, assistant superintendent at Three Rivers.

"That hasn't been determined yet," Youngquist said, adding that decisions on involved partners will be fleshed out after the plan is formally adopted next year.

Dakota County's Sullivan said another problem is a provision to create a grant program where park agencies would compete for funds if the money is used for capital projects that would enhance equitable use of the regional park system.

"These barriers reflect operational, not capital, budget needs," said a draft letter to the council from the Dakota County Board. Comments drafted by Carver County park officials caution the council to thoroughly investigate barriers to equitable park use before steering money to costly capital projects.

In its draft comments, Scott County asks the council whether it will commit new funding to enhance equitable use of parks or simply will transfer resources from other programs and projects. The county also says the equity goals are vague, making it hard for park agencies to know whether they're hitting the mark.

Youngquist said specifics will come later and that right now, the draft plan is largely "conceptual."

The council says it will consider the comments as possible revisions to the existing draft. John Elholm, parks director in Washington County, said he hopes regional park agencies can talk through their concerns with council staff.

"I think everybody is on the same page as far as goals," he said. "It's just how you get there."