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January 26, 2012Donate Now
                                 

Greetings!   


Take a look at the newest addition to Voyageurs National Park's public lands! 

Dove Bay Property


In the final days of 2011, the National Park Service purchased the 3.4-acre shoreline property on Dove Bay of Rainy Lake (shown above) from the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota. Visible to nearly all visitors traveling into the Park from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, this property will be restored to its natural state beginning in 2012 and be made accessible for all to enjoy.

The "Dove Bay" property was purchased from a willing seller in 2007, through a joint partnership between Voyageurs National Park Association and the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota. Parks and Trails bought and held the property, while VNPA covered holding costs, hired contractors to perform abatement of lead found in the soil, and advocated for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriations necessary to allow the National Park Service to buy the land for preservation.

We are thrilled to announce that the transaction has finally come full circle. This was the first purchase of our Land Preservation Initiative, VNPA's program to complete public ownership of Voyageurs National Park by working with willing sellers of the 50+ properties remaining within Park boundaries. 

We owe an enormous thank you to: the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota, the WM Foundation and the Wallace C. Dayton Voyageurs National Park Legacy Fund, Voyageurs National Park and the National Park Service, Pelland-Swenson and Rainy Lake Construction Co., Senator Klobuchar, Senator Franken and Representative McCollum (who supported appropriations from the Land and Water Conservation Fund), Frank Pavek, Scott Haugen, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. who provided extraordinary pro-bono legal support and grants for the Land Preservation Initiative, and of course, our members!

Sincerely,
 
Jody Tableporter
Executive Director

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Park Grooms 2nd Ice Road on Lake Kabetogama

 

Voyageurs National Park's 7-mile Rainy Lake Ice Road has been such a success in the community, the Park has groomed a second ice road on Lake Kabetogama. The new 9-mile ice road follows the lake's south shore, connecting the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center and the Ash River Visitor Center. Learn more in the winter trail reports at www.nps.gov/voya.

Call for Committee Members

 

Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity that combines your skills and interest in Voyageurs National Park? Consider joining a task force committee at Voyageurs National Park Association. 

 

Committees meet monthly. Members are called upon for their expertise or interest in a particular field (such as policy, communications, membership, event planning, and development, for instance) and to assist staff throughout the month on key projects, big and small. The typical time commitment is about 2-4 hours per month. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Jody Tableporter at vnpa@voyageurs.org or (612) 333-5424. 

News Bites:
  • Voyageur Messenger, Winter 2012 Edition: Read the official newsletter of Voyageurs National Park, including features on:
    • Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring in Voyageurs National Park
    • 1936 Kabetogama Peninsula Fires
    • Ellsworth Rock Gardens Repairs
    • Exotic Species Education & New "Boot Brush Stations"
    • International Community Congress - Gateway Community Teams Develop Action Plans
    • 2011 Fall Volunteer Rendezvous with VNPA 
  • Winter Trail and Ice Conditions Reports: Did you know that Voyageurs National Park issues weekly reports on the conditions of your favorite ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, and ice road trails? Stay in the know at www.nps.gov/voya.

 

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Support Voyageurs National Park Association by becoming a member or renewing your membership today with a tax-deductible contribution! Our work depends upon the generous support of our members. Join online or mail a check to the address below. Thank you!
To protect and promote the natural, recreational,
and historic resources of Voyageurs National Park
 
Voyageurs National Park Association
126 N. 3rd St. Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401
ph. (612) 333-5424   fax (612) 339-4731
www.voyageurs.org  vnpa@voyageurs.org