Purpose

This bill provides funding to improve safety and usability of park trails by adding lighting in Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park.

Main Provisions

• Amount and timing: A onetime appropriation of 2,000,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2026.
• How funds are used: The money goes to the Metropolitan Council as a grant to Washington County to construct and equip lighting along trails in Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park.
• Source and mechanism: General fund money appropriated to the Metropolitan Council, via a grant to the county.
• Conditions: The appropriation is one-time and remains available until the project is completed or abandoned, and it follows Minnesota Statutes section 16A.642.

What the bill seeks to accomplish

• Provide a dedicated, one-time funding infusion to install trail lighting to improve safety, visibility, and nighttime access for park users.

Significant changes to existing law

• Establishes a new, specific one-time capital investment appropriation for park trail lighting.
• Uses the Metropolitan Council as the intermediary for a grant to Washington County to carry out the lighting project.
• Ties the funding to a completion-or-abandonment deadline under the referenced statutes (16A.642).

Additional notes on scope and terms

• This is strictly a capital investment project funded from the general fund for a specific park trail lighting initiative.
• The project is governed by the statutory framework cited (Minnesota Statutes section 16A.642).

Relevant Terms appropriation general fund Metropolitan Council grant Washington County lighting trails Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park fiscal year 2026 onetime completed abandoned Minnesota Statutes section 16A.642 capital investment