Detroit Mountain Recreation Area
DETROIT LAKES, Minn. (KFGO/KDLM) – The Detroit Mountain Recreation Area is expanding, thanks to hundreds of thousands of dollars in state grant funding.
The Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission approved an $821,700 grant to help the city acquire 32.6 acres on the south end of the recreation area for future development and improvements.
The grant is part of a larger package of $11.3 million in funding recommended for 12 parks and trails across Greater Minnesota for Fiscal Year 2027. The Minnesota Legislature signs off on the commission’s annual recommendations, with dollars coming from the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund—one of the dedicated funds established under the 2008 Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
Detroit Lakes Community Development Director Larry Remmen said the money will directly support long-term expansion plans at Detroit Mountain.
“We are elated to have been selected for this grant,” Remmen said. “Area residents and visitors already enjoy the relaxation and beauty they find at DMRA, and this needed funding will make their visits better than ever.”
Chair of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, Rick Anderson, said each project selected demonstrated strong local planning and a clear need for investment.
“It’s the dedicated people at the local level who make Greater Minnesota’s parks and trails really shine,” Anderson said.
In addition to project grants, the commission has set aside two special funds—each totaling $238,000—to support environmental and archaeological reviews, as well as work to improve accessibility and inclusivity at the state’s 84 designated regional parks and trails. Applications for those funds will be accepted until the money is exhausted.
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