She said the DNR has already spent the past two years in workshops with a mix of stakeholders, including state government allies, tribal authorities, the cities of Duluth and New Ulm, conservation nonprofits and tourism groups. Their focus was partly the current fee structure; how to find new, stable funding; and where to direct it. Those discussions, she added, laid the groundwork for legislators this session to request a park pass proposal.
A draft of a plan is due next January to the Legislature. The new system could be in place in the latter half of 2027 if legislators approve, according to a DNR spokesperson.
Strommen said she doesn’t want Minnesotans to feel like a new park pass is something imposed on them. Like in Michigan, residents would control whether they opt in. But she is confident a new model will succeed, pointing to Minnesotans’ vote to extend the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which uses lottery proceeds to aid conservation, as a good barometer.
The Parks & Trails Council’s Feldman said the plan is overdue. “We really believe in [a new park pass],” he added. “It is a great idea. It will increase access and make buying a pass easier.”