[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Minnesota state parks are drawing record crowds this year and broke record numbers on the Fourth of July holiday weekend[/title][fusion_text]Monday, July 20th 2015
Even with the severe storms this month, Minnesota state parks are drawing record crowds this year and broke record numbers on the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Department of Natural Resources figures show occupancy at state parks hit 84 percent which is the highest percentage of campsites and other park lodgings booked for any weekend since the DNR launched its current reservation system in 2012, and probably ever. DNR officials credit attendance gains in recent years to the revenue it gets from the Legacy Amendment sales tax increase that voters approved in 2008 which has provided funding for new programs and outreach to make people aware of all the free and low-cost things to do at state parks. The hopes is that the public will still use the parks in the state though many in the Brainerd lakes area and others had heavy damage from last weekend’s storms.
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