Brooklyn Center Lawmaker Talks Legacy Funding Benefits
Lawmakers granted $777 million to the outdoors, clean water, parks and trails, and cultural heritage this past session.
Rep. Samantha Vang, DFL-Brooklyn Center, sponsored the bill. Vang said many of those dollars will help local projects.
Vang is co-chair of the Legacy Finance Committee, which allocates money from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
“No other states have any type of funding like this that can dedicate hundreds of thousands even millions of dollars to support and clean our waters, preserve our wildlife and support our parks and trails,” Vang said. “A lot of how we take care of our resources comes from Legacy dollars. So, I want to encourage folks who didn’t get funding this year to continue to reach out.”
Vang said $51 million went to support parks and trails statewide, including those within the Three Rivers Park District. She also said some other funding will help support public beaches, like those in Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center.
Money from the state’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund went directly to some local organizations as well, Vang said.
Hiddo Soor, a Somali Cultural festival held in Plymouth, received funding. Igbo Fest, which is held in Brooklyn Park, also got funds, as did Sengkane Lao, a Brooklyn Park Lao dance organization. Osseo’s 150-year celebration received funding, too.
A full list of project funds are available on page five of the Minnesota House’s new laws document.
