Three Rivers State of the Parks Address and Expo Highlights Importance of Partnerships

At Three Rivers Park District’s State of the Parks Address and Expo held April 23 at the Hyland Hills Chalet in Bloomington, Three Rivers Board Chair John Gibbs highlighted the important role parks play in the vitality of the region and in the lives of the people who reside here, and described how partnerships are at the core of many Three Rivers efforts to connect everyone to nature and the outdoors.
     
“Bringing together diverse expertise, experiences and resources from partners allows us to develop innovative solutions to complex problems and expand the reach of our impact deeper into, and even beyond, the borders of the parkland we manage,” Gibbs told the audience.

The State of the Parks is hosted annually by the Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners, and this year they were honored to be joined by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar for the event. During her remarks, Representative Omar also described the importance of collaboration. “Together, we can achieve so much more than we could individually,” Omar said. “A stunning park district like Three Rivers doesn’t happen because of one person. It happens because everyday people, non-profits, local governments, schools and businesses all come together to contribute to Three Rivers. That partnership is what builds community and that is what keeps us strong, healthy and happy.”

Omar also spoke about her efforts to successfully secure federal funding to improve water quality at Sochacki Park, a park jointly operated by Three Rivers and the cities of Robbinsdale and Golden Valley.

Gibbs highlighted additional partnerships that have enhanced natural resources and helped everyone discover and experience nature. Brief videos featuring partners describing the successful efforts were shared during his presentation. View the videos.

“We are grateful for the countless partners we have worked with across the region on so many different projects and initiatives,” Gibbs said. “Thank you for the opportunities to work together. We look forward to continued collaboration and to forging new relationships in the years ahead.”