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 a few weeks ago with an urbanist named Gil Penalosa who works with cities to make them more accessible and usable for people young and old. One of his focuses is city and urban parks and how they can connect communities.

It made me wonder where state parks fit into that conversation. Next year will mark 125 years of state parks in Minnesota. In 1891 lawmakers approved legislation setting aside land that would be free from cutting and timber commercial usage — a big deal at that time in northern Minnesota.

"The name of said park shall be the Itasca State Park," reads the law. "And the same is by this act dedicated to the perpetual use of the people of this state under the proper restrictions hereinafter provided, or which may be hereafter provided by law." 

Our relationship with public space and the natural world has shifted dramatically over the years, and so has the role and use of state parks. So let's reimagine the state parks of the future, and parks of the future, in general. 
 
My guests include 

 who oversees Minnesota's state parks as Parks and Trails Director at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

, Professor of Environmental Psychology, Geography, Anthropology, and Women's Studies at The Graduate Center at City University of New York.

What needs to be the focus of agencies like the DNR in running and creating and overseeing state parks?  What has to be considered when we talk about the future of such areas?

Tom Weber

Author

2016 marks the 125th anniversary of Minnesota's state parks and trails. Americans' relationship with public space and the natural world has shifted dramatically over the years, and so has the role and use of state parks.

2016 marks the 125th anniversary of Minnesota's state parks and trails. Americans' relationship with public space and the natural world has shifted dramatically over the years, and so has the role and use of state parks. We re-imagine the parks of the future.

Guests: Erika Rivers, Parks and Trails Director at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Setha Low, Professor of Environmental Psychology, Geography, Anthropology, and Women's Studies at The Graduate Center at City University of New York

Reimagining the parks of the future

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