Establish a Neighborhood Green Space Grant Program in Urban Minnesota

 

The purpose of this bill is to promote the growth and revival of our treasured green and natural spaces within urban

Minnesota. This bill hopes to accomplish revitalizing the foliage and community we have lost with hundreds of years of

deforestation and urban expansion.

 

Throughout Minnesota, natural habitats and valuable ecosystems have been destroyed by the spread of human development

over the course of the last two centuries. Prairies that once stretched for miles have been cut back for highways,

suburbs, farms, and more. Each wave of development has continuously chipped away at the state’s natural landscape. This

bill would establish provisions to protect natural green spaces in urban areas across Minnesota by utilizing state

funding and development to create safe community green spaces that are easily and readily accessible to all Minnesotans.

 

“Green Space” shall be defined by any public-use green space over 1 acre and under 100 acres

“Urban Area” shall be defined by contiguous census blocks with over 500 people per square mile

“Census Block” shall be defined as the smallest geographic unit established by the United States Census Bureau for the

purpose of counting the population. Census blocks are used for official population tabulation, redistricting, allocation

of government resources, and enforcement of applicable federal, state, and local laws

 

Funding for this bill may come from the state’s General Fund, as well as the Outdoor Heritage Fund, and the Environment

& Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF).

Opening 15 parks per year would require around 55M in funding over the course of 5 years

11M/ per year.

 

N/A

 

The effective date of this bill will be April 1st, 2027.