Welcome to Wannigan Park

• Self guided exhibits in the interpretive center;
• Outdoor amphitheater presentations and performances;
• Indoor and outdoor classroom space;
• Guided tours and lessons;
• Interpretive presentations and tours; and
• Service learning/stewardship through habitat restoration & maintenance.

The park will act as a hub for the Otter Tail River State Water Trail - a designated canoe and kayak route; Heartland State Trail Extension - a multi-use non motorized trail; and North Country National Scenic Trail, a hiking trail. The regional vision of connecting communities extends to either side of the Heartland Trail. To the East of Frazee, the aim is to connect into the Cities of Wolf Lake, Osage and Park Rapids. In Park Rapids the Trail continues on towards the City of Walker and a new segment has been planned that will connect Park Rapids to Itasca State Park to the north.

From Detroit Lakes the Trail blends into the community providing passage from the outskirts of town to its beautiful lakefront before proceeding south and west to Dunton Locks County Park, and then the aim is to bring the trail further south and west along lake communities like Lake Sally, Lake Melissa and Pelican Lake before turning north to Middle Cormorant and the City of Lake Park before winding its way farther west towards the City of Lake Park and Hawley.

Having identified this preferred pathway within the County Master Trails Plan has created an opportunity to eventually interconnect via Hwy. 9 to Pelican Rapids and Maplewood State Park. MNDOT has recently proposed a bike lane from Pelican Rapids, which may be routed along Hwy. 9 to just south of Pelican Lake providing access for further connection via trails to parks and communities located in Otter Tail County.

As the Trail heads north and then west from the Lake Park area to Hawley, that city plans to utilize the Heartland Tail to connect with Buffalo River State Park prior to proceeding westward to its final terminus in Moorhead.

General camping: 1 area; the site will include a restroom/shower facility, and electric & water hook-ups (1)

Primitive and group camping: 1 primitive, 1 group camping area with permanent or portable satellite toilets and potable water spigots

Parking (6 sites):

• 1 for the interpretive center, trailheads and general park use (SW corner entrance – main)
• 1 for the main boat launch
• 2 for picnicking and amphitheater use (East of River)
• 1 for trail use as a trailhead (North entrance) with limited access to tent camping areas
• 1 for group camping

Picnic Sites: (4 Shelters)

Interpretive Center

Emergency Shelters: as required (combined with other buildings)

1 canoe/kayak boat launch area

Outdoor amphitheater

Paved and natural surface trails and ADA access routes

Demonstration native gardens and a demonstration fruit orchard

Other infrastructure: (utilities, roads, sewage pump out station)

The Wannigan Park concept was developed about fifteen years ago and was publicly discussed during the City of Frazee’s comprehensive planning process in 2018-19. There was much public input on the park idea during the planning process and the Park is included in the City Comprehensive Plan adopted in October 2019. The Plan entitled “The Frazee Comprehensive Plan 2035 includes strategies to “identify and safeguard valuable natural resources and outdoor heritage through education, preservation and conservation efforts.” In the Plan, the Wannigan Park site, referred to as the “Ness property”, was identified for a future park. The strategy states, “Continue to work on regional or state park designation for the Ness property.”

Other Plan strategies that Wannigan Park will help implement are:

• “Develop and maintain the Otter Tail River system as a primary recreation area,”
• “Increase access points for recreational uses”,
• “Improve opportunities for river related recreation”,
• “Enhance preservation of native plants and habitat protection efforts for wildlife”,
• “Better connectivity between parks and trails locally and regionally”
• “Connect to the Heartland Trail”,
• “Identify proposed regional park”,
• “Identify property for kayak/canoe storage” where local residents could rent a space to store their personal boat, and
• “Work with SHIP on a rental program for kayaks/canoes.”

Upon completion of the Frazee Comprehensive Plan 2035, the City and County staff formed a committee that began to meet in 2019 and was composed of elected officials, volunteer citizens, and, importantly, staff from the National Park Service, who played an essential and central role in helping the committee develop the Wannigan Park from a concept to a Master Plan/reality. In addition, the County’s Recreational Advisory Committee also was a sounding board for the park concept during this time. The Wannigan Park Committee met regularly from Fall 2020 to Spring 2022. A draft Master Plan was reviewed at public meetings with the Frazee City Council, Burlington Township Board of Supervisors, and with adjacent landowners in January and February 2021, and the Master Plan was approved by the Frazee City Council on March 15, 2021 and the Burlington Township Board of Supervisors on March 11, 2021.

The City submitted the application for regional significance to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) in Spring 2021 with the adopted master plan attached. The GMRPTC ranked Wannigan Park high in July 2021, making it eligible for funding consideration. When the proposed partnership between Becker County and Frazee to own and manage the park did not materialize, the Park Committee found new volunteers to take over as board members of the inactive nonprofit organization, the Frazee Community Development Corporation, Inc. (FCDC), with a new focus: to develop Wannigan Park. FCDC will develop, manage and operate the regional park with the City of Frazee as the owner. The Park Committee has continued to hold monthly meetings that are open to the public.

In an online survey conducted in 2020, 121 respondents from Frazee and surrounding area in Becker and Otter Tail Counties rated the five public health values on a scale from 1 (not important) to 10 (extremely important).

1. Enhancing mental health - highest, with an average score of 8.70
2. Connects People to the Outdoors - ranked second with an average score of 8.67
3. Promotes Healthy Lifestyles - with an average rating of 8.30
4. Promotes Physical Activity - with a 8.27 average score
5. Encouraging Social Interaction - with an average score of 7.36

Wannigan Park will help meet all of the public health values listed above. It will connect people to the outdoors by providing a destination that can serve as a base for exploring the Heartland, North Country and Otter Tail River trails. It will promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles by offering a convenient trailhead with camping facilities to explore the three state & national trails, where people can participate in a variety of physical activities. Wannigan Park will enhance mental health by offering on-site natural and hard surface trails and other recreational facilities in a natural setting.

Research has shown that being in nature positively impacts mental health, especially the sound of birds, the views and sounds of water, and green vegetation. Wannigan Park, by retaining and restoring native habitat and through its location on the Otter Tail River, will offer all three of these features. Finally, the Park will encourage social interaction through its interpretive center, which will draw people to learn about the area’s history and nature. Programming will also be offered, such as interpretive walks as well as more active programs to explore the trails, which will bring people with similar interests together. Amphitheater programs, such as presentations and concerts, will likewise encourage social interaction.

The Frazee Comprehensive Plan 2035, adopted in October 2019, includes a goal to “retain and increase the number of visitors that come to Frazee.” Strategies include: “Continue to leverage trails and trail development to promote Frazee as a trail town”, “Encourage development that promotes and enhances tourism” and “Leverage the Trail Town model of economic development.” The development of Wannigan Park will help the City achieve this goal.

Becker County Comprehensive Plan, 2003 includes an economic development goal to “Manage public lands to support the growth of recreation and tourism through sustainable natural resource management.” The public lands goal is: “Becker County will manage its administered lands for a diversity of uses that sustain the County’s environmental, economic, and community

value for future generations.” The trails goal is: “Becker County will develop and maintain recreational trail systems throughout the County.” A strategy is: “Support the creation of permanent non-motorized trails in the County and work with other local, Tribal, State, and Federal agencies to create regional, non-motorized trail systems.”

Becker County is the fourth highest in gross tourism sales for the northwest region. The county brings in 22 nearly $72 million in gross sales and $4.5 million in sales tax. Approximately 31% of households in Becker County are seasonal homes. Key reasons people buy vacation homes in Becker County were peacefulness (63 percent), scenic beauty (57 percent), water quality (48

percent), family ties to area (33 percent), proximity to family (33 percent) and proximity to recreational amenities (32 percent). Seasonal households spend an average of $120 a month in groceries and liquor, $74 in dining and bars, $74 in gas, $95 in home maintenance, $75 in entertainment and recreation, and $1,066 in construction and remodeling.

A 2007 University of Minnesota Tourism Center survey showed that 85 percent of tourists are repeat visitors. The primary reason they come to this area is for pleasure or recreation (43 percent). Other reasons included combined business and pleasure (10 percent) and festivals or special events and visiting friends or relatives (8 percent each).

Wannigan Regional Park provides amazing opportunity for increased tourism, economic support, and a thriving community for the City of Frazee, Becker County, and the entire Region. Together we are creating a premier destination for outdoor recreation and cultural preservation that improves quality of life and the land through open space, trails, and storytelling.