Plum Creek Park photo Plum Creek Park visitors take a dip in Lake Laura at Plum Creek Park near Walnut Grove. The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission recommends the Minnesota Legislature grant $818,539 in Fiscal Year 2024 Parks and Trails Legacy Funds to Plum Creek Park.

ST. PAUL — Plum Creek Park in Redwood County and the Henderson Scenic Byway Regional Trail in Sibley County are recommended to receive Fiscal Year 2024 Legacy Fund grants.

The grants are part of $11.4 million in enhancements to 14 Minnesota regional parks and trails.

The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) recommended the Minnesota Legislature approve a $818,539 grant for Plum Creek Park and $1,394,400 for the Henderson Scenic Byway Regional Trail.

Plum Creek Park, a 215-acre Redwood County Park near Walnut Grove would receive a number of enhancements including construction of a retaining wall to prevent future flooding, adding ADA accessibility to Lake Laura beach and adding a Nature Playscape experiential play space with natural landscapes for children.

“This funding is so important, so life changing,” said GMRPTC Executive Director Renee Mattson. “Plum Creek Park is really a gem. It’s a beautiful, beautiful park. Redwood County has done so much there. They’ve been wise with their investments.”

Lake Laura was created as a reservoir to aid downstream flooding concerns. The park maintains 64 recreational vehicle campsites, dump station, eight primitive campsites and six camper cabins.

Two park trails, one around Lake Laura, the other along the banks of Plum Creek, allow visitors to experience a diverse and serene landscape.

Other park features are space for large group gatherings, playground, flush toilets, disc golf, two baseball fields and sand volleyball courts. A camp store sells snacks, sodas, souvenirs, gifts, firewood, ice and other supplies.

Mattson said Henderson Scenic Byway Regional Trail funds are for grading a bike lane on a road shoulder that would be nearly 10 miles long when complete.

“The project is in conjunction with a county project including building up the roadbed to get it out of the floodplain,” said Mattson. “The road needs to settle first. It’s very cost effective as part of a county highway project. The trail will eventually be paved. The first project includes grading and gravel.”

Mattson said the Fiscal Year 2024 Legacy Funds would be available as early as July 1, 2023.

Since its creation in 2014, the GMRPTC awarded more than $72 million in grants to 109 projects in 74 designated parks and trails.

Combined with $25.6 million in community matches to date, grants are used for land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, new facilities, trail rehabilitation, connecting people with the outdoor.