歪歪漫画

Minnesotans have long loved and overwhelmingly supported spending state lottery proceeds 鈥� about $70 million annually 鈥� to build trails, fishing piers, parks, campsites, and more; to protect water quality; to get kids outside; to restore wildlife habitat; and to otherwise bolster, protect and increase access to our great outdoors.

Greater than 80% of voters from the Land of 10,000 Lakes approved the constitutional amendment in 1988 that created the . Greater than 70% have since voted on two separate occasions to renew what鈥檚 turned out to be a really great idea.

Dedicated funding from the lottery to protect and allow more use of our outdoor spaces is once again in need of renewal. While amending the constitution should never be done lightly, on Nov. 5, or sooner via early voting, a convincing percentage of Minnesotans can once again say yes to this amendment, keeping its countless successes going for another 25 years.

鈥淧eople are realizing the value of recreation for tourism, for local spending and to attract residents. It鈥檚 quality of life and health, all those kinds of things. These dollars are very important,鈥� Beth Pierce, executive director of the Iron Range Tourism Bureau in Eveleth, said in an exclusive interview last week with Forum Communications. 鈥淭his is a good source of funding for so many small, grassroots groups and for our towns, so we can attract people, so we can get new residents.鈥�

The Iron Range Tourism Bureau is one of 130 members of a collaborative called Minnesotans for Our Great Outdoors, which was created to support and promote the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Since the trust fund started doling out grants 33 years ago in 1991, more than $1 billion has been invested in more than 1,700 innovative natural resources projects 鈥� each one boosting a local economy. An estimated 200 to 250 groups have received lottery funds. The result is a better Minnesota, with more opportunities for all of us to enjoy and benefit from the outdoors.

Surely, Minnesotans can support keeping that going.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity for a lot of our communities, especially smaller ones, to be able to access funds for parks projects, environmental-education efforts, things related to climate resiliency, that sort of thing,鈥� said Bradley Peterson of the St. Paul-based Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a campground and trail improvements in Biwabik, it鈥檚 been helping the cities of Virginia and Red Wing make trail connections, it's been helping with a trailhead in Brainerd, it鈥檚 a trail between Perham and Park Rapids connecting with Maple Lake State park, and in St. Joseph (it鈥檚) helping to improve access to their waterfront and river with kayak and canoe landings. 鈥� By dedicating it to these purposes, you鈥檙e making sure good work gets done.鈥�

All without raising anyone鈥檚 taxes.

So, vote yes, Minnesotans, and take part in ensuring the future of our great outdoors.

This Forum Communications Co. editorial represents the views of Forum Communications Co., this newspaper's parent company. It was written by the FCC Editorial Advisory Board.