Great River Regional Library offers Minnesota state park passes for patrons to check out

Submitted by breannef on

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

7/21/2025

 

Contact: Breanne Fruth, Communications and Development Coordinator
            320-650-2532

 

Great River Regional Library offers Minnesota state park passes for patrons to check out

Great River Regional Library (GRRL) is participating in the library park pass program in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The program provides access to state parks and recreation areas at no cost to library patrons.  

 

“State parks and recreation areas in Minnesota are for everyone, and this program is an important way we’re expanding access,” explained Ann Pierce, director of the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division. “There are so many benefits to spending time outdoors, from health and wellness benefits to education and making memories with loved ones. This program helps us bring meaningful experiences in state parks and recreation areas to more Minnesotans.”

 

The program is available at select GRRL locations. Participating libraries met specific criteria for serving lower-income communities and were approved by the Council for Regional Public Library System Administrators. Each library has between one and four passes available for a seven-day checkout period. Park passes are available at GRRL’s participating libraries on a first-come, first-serve basis, and passes can simply be recycled after seven days – no return necessary. 

 

Great River Regional Library locations with passes for checkout:

  • Annandale Public Library

  • Big Lake Public Library

  • Buffalo Public Library

  • Cokato Public Library

  • Eagle Bend Public Library

  • Foley Public Library

  • Little Falls Carnegie Library

  • Long Prairie Public Library

  • Monticello Public Library

  • Sauk Centre Sinclair Lewis Library

  • St. Cloud Public Library

  • Staples Public Library

  • Upsala Public Library

  • Waite Park Al Ringsmuth Public Library

 

 

The program was developed to expand access to Minnesota state parks to people who may not be able to purchase a vehicle permit. The program was piloted in 2018 and launched statewide in 2021. On July 1, 2025, the program more than doubled the number of participating libraries and the number of passes available to check out, and now includes a total of 450 passes available at more than 200 libraries and bookmobiles across the state. The cost of the passes is covered by the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund, while partnering libraries facilitate the checkout process. To see a list of participating libraries, visit mndnr.gov/librarypass.

 

A 2024 survey of people using library park passes found that most respondents were checking out a pass to save money, and the cost of a vehicle permit was a barrier to visiting state parks. Some survey respondents noted they were not frequent visitors and were looking to try visiting a state park before they buy a permit. 

 

Library park passes only cover the vehicle entrance fee. If participants would like to camp, they will need to make and pay for camping reservations, either online at mndnr.gov/reservations or by phone at 866-857-2757. 

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