Minnesota's State Parks officials are starting to figure out how they'll deal with the double whammy their budget took from the government shutdown and the state budget deal that ended it.
The shutdown cost the parks about $2 million in lost revenue. And the budget deal cut another $3 million from the parks' general operating funds. The Legislature tried to soften the blow with an injection of one-time money from the state's Environmental Trust Fund. But the result will still be cuts in services.
MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Courtland Nelson, who directs the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Parks and Trails division.