DNR seeks public input for Lake Vermilion State Park

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking early public input as part of its Lake Vermilion State Park master planning process. The DNR is asking citizens to respond to a short questionnaire on its Web site throughout the month of September. The link is: http:// www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lake_vermilion/ index.html.

The public input tool includes 19 questions and takes most people about five to seven minutes to complete. The questions explore the kinds of experiences and facilities Minnesotans would like to have in their newest state park.

“We are encouraging all Minnesotans to go to the DNR Web site and share their ideas about what they would like to see at Lake Vermilion State Park,” said Minnesota State Parks and Trails Director Courtland Nelson. “We’d like this to be a year-round destination. So we’re asking everyone to think about what would entice you to come to the park in the winter as well as the summer.”

Answers will be used by DNR staff and the park’s Citizens Advisory Committee to guide the master planning process.

The questionnaire is the first of two public input opportunities available during the master planning process for the park. The second will occur later this fall, when the DNR will ask for public comments on the draft park master plan.

Additional public comments and suggestions are welcome at any time during the master planning process by e-mailing jade.templin@state.mn.us, or by calling 651-259-5598.

Lake Vermilion State Park was established earlier this summer, when the state of Minnesota closed a 3,000-acre land transaction with U.S. Steel.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.