Recommendations that call for a more equitable process and distribution of Minnesota’s Parks and Trails Legacy Funds ought to be adopted by Gov. Mark Dayton.

And kudos ought to go to the work group made up of the Minnesota DNR, Metropolitan Council and Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Coalition for seeing the need to provide a greater share that the current funding to parks and trails outside the metro area.

The recommendations are expected to be brought by Dayton in his biennial budget to the Legislature early next year.

The recommendation calls for 40 percent of the funding to go to each the DNR and metropolitan regional park and trail providers, with 20 percent dedicated to greater Minnesota regional park and trail providers.

The existing formula called for metro parks and the DNR to split 86 percent of the total Legacy funds while greater Minnesota had to compete for money.

The current funding formula was an issue brought to the Minnesota Rural Counties Caucus, of which Koochiching is a member, at its annual meeting held in October in Borderland.

Dan Larson, MRCC administrator, called the recommendation a significant step forward for greater Minnesota.

The recommendation on funding is a part of a larger interim agreement for fiscal years 2014-19. Another recommendation significant to greater Minnesota calls for developing draft criteria and a process for future allocations beyond the interim agreement.

Larson said the changes weren’t easy but at least greater Minnesota is now at the table with the other two entities that are funded.

Funding for program is from the Parks and Trails Fund created by the Minnesota Legislature from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment passed by the voters in 2008. The Legacy Amendment increased the state sales tax by three-eighths of one percent beginning on July 1, 2009, and continues until 2034. The additional sales tax revenue is distributed into four funds as follows: 33 percent to the clean water fund; 33 percent to the outdoor heritage fund; 19.75 percent to the arts and cultural heritage fund; and 14.25 percent to the parks and trails fund.

Greater Minnesota must have a larger piece of the pie when it comes to trails and parks..After all, many visitors from the metro area enjoy what we have to offer. Establishing new trails and parks, and improving existing ones, throughout the state is good for all of Minnesota.