Three Rivers Park District

What Three Rivers Park District does

Three Rivers Park District is a special-purpose unit of local government founded in 1957 and headquartered at 3000 Xenium Lane N. in Plymouth, Minnesota. It manages a network of park reserves, regional parks, nature centers, and recreation facilities spanning more than 27,000 acres across the Twin Cities metropolitan area, including flagship destinations such as Elm Creek Park Reserve (4,900 acres), Baker Park Reserve (2,700 acres), Hyland Lake Park Reserve (2,565 acres), Carver Park Reserve, Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Bryant Lake Regional Park, Cleary Lake Regional Park, French Regional Park, and Silverwood Park. The district is one of 10 implementing agencies of the Metropolitan Regional Parks System and is eligible for funding from all four funds under Minnesota's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Its core service lines include nature education (four nature centers plus the Nature School preschool at $1,650 annual tuition), seasonal recreation (Hyland Hills Ski Area, Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area, the multi-course Golf Academy), summer and nature camps, group camping and rental venues for weddings and corporate events, fee-based activity passes and equipment rentals, photography permits, and a robust volunteer program with ~800 ongoing volunteers contributing 40,000 hours annually.

The organization operates a multi-channel direct-to-consumer distribution model: a self-service online reservation platform (go.threeriversparks.org) and a separate ski/snowboard booking system (mnthreeriversweb.myvscloud.com), a phone-based Guest Services line (763-559-6700), and in-person service at nature centers and park facilities. Operational technology is composed of off-the-shelf and partner-vendor tools, including Matterport for 3D virtual tours, ArcGIS for interactive mapping and the Volunteer Forest tribute-tree map, Mailchimp for newsletters, ADP Workforce Now for seasonal hiring, and StoryMaps for an audio driving tour of Carver Park. In 2025 the district launched a new visual, user-friendly reservation and registration system replacing the prior platform.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid public-sector model: a primary property tax levy, Legacy Amendment funding, intergovernmental and grant funding (Conservation Partners Legacy Grant, National Park Service, Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Hennepin County AIS Prevention Program), and user-paid streams such as activity passes, equipment rentals, program and camp fees, facility rentals, Nature School tuition, photography permits, and donations. Major institutional customers/partners include the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Scott County (joint powers agreement at Cleary Lake), the City of Bloomington (cooperative management of Bush Lake and Normandale Lake Parks effective January 1, 2025), Hennepin County, the University of Minnesota, and various watershed districts. Personnel include Superintendent Boe Carlson and Board Chair John Gibbs; total headcount is in the 1,001-5,000 band.

Name

Three Rivers Park District

Legal name

Three Rivers Park District

Website

https://threeriversparks.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Three Rivers Park District is a Minnesota special-purpose government agency managing over 27,000 acres of park reserves, nature centers, ski areas, and golf facilities across the Twin Cities metro, serving residents with free general access and fee-based recreation, education, and event-rental programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Parks and Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

River & Wetland Lodges (Delta/Okavango-style) (THAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Public parks management
• Outdoor recreation services
• Environmental education programs
• Nature-based summer camps
• Regional trail systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding & Tax Levy: Primary funding from property tax levy and Minnesota's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment funding as one of 10 Metropolitan Regional Parks System implementing agencies
2. Recreation Passes & Activity Fees: Revenue from annual/season passes and day passes for archery, boating, cross-country skiing, disc golf, dog off-leash areas, downhill skiing, golf, horseback riding, snowboarding, snowmobiling, swimming
3. Facility & Space Rentals: Income from renting indoor rooms, outdoor picnic areas, wedding venues, and camping facilities (campsites, camper cabins)
4. Equipment Rentals: Revenue from watercraft (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats), bicycles, golf clubs, cross-country skis, snowshoes, and explorer backpacks
5. Nature School Tuition: Tuition-based outdoor preschool program: $1,650 total for September-May, billed monthly at $25/class
6. Program Fees: Fees for educational programs, nature camps, summer camps, golf lessons, and special events
7. Photography Permits: Commercial and professional photography passes (annual and hourly)
8. Donations: Donations supporting fee assistance programs, nature center operations, animal care, and general park district support

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Three Rivers Park District is a special purpose unit of local government in Minnesota that manages over 27,000 acres of park reserves, regional parks, nature centers, and trails across the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It provides outdoor recreation facilities and programming including golf, downhill skiing, snowboarding, camping, boating, swimming, summer camps, Nature School preschool, and environmental education programs, as well as facility rentals for weddings and corporate events.

Product overview

Three Rivers Park District is a park district operating a network of park reserves, regional parks, nature centers, and recreation facilities across the Minneapolis metropolitan area. The organization offers a unified platform of outdoor recreation services centered on its 27,000+ acre park system, which includes multiple nature centers (Richardson, Eastman, Lowry, and Gateway), ski areas (Hyland Hills and Elm Creek Winter Recreation), golf courses, campgrounds, and rental venues. Key products include summer camps, Nature School preschool, Golf Academy instruction, the new reservation and registration system, fee assistance programs (Recreation Pass Plus), and volunteer programs. The organization receives funding through Minnesota's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment and operates as one of 10 implementing agencies of the Metropolitan Regional Parks System.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Park Reserves and Regional Parks Network of park reserves and regional parks spanning over 27,000 acres, including Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Elm Creek Park Reserve, Carver Park Reserve, Baker Park Reserve, Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Bryant Lake Regional Park, and Cleary Lake Regional Park, offering diverse outdoor recreation and natural resource preservation for the public.
• Nature Centers Four nature centers (Richardson Nature Center, Eastman Nature Center, Lowry Nature Center, Gateway Center) providing environmental education, interpretive programs, live animal exhibits, and hands-on learning experiences for visitors of all ages.
• Summer Camps Year-round summer camp programs for children including traditional outdoor camps, Counselor-in-Training programs, Nature School, and specialized camps for golf, nature exploration, and outdoor skills development.
• Golf Academy Golf instruction program offering group lessons, private lessons, clinics and camps for all ages and skill levels at multiple golf courses including Baker National Golf Course, Cleary Lake Golf Course, Eagle Lake Youth Golf Center, Glen Lake Golf & Practice Center, Hyland Greens Golf Course, and Parkers Lake Golf Center.
• Hyland Hills Ski Area Downhill skiing and snowboarding facility featuring snowmaking, grooming, terrain parks, SnowSports Academy lessons, and season passes. Part of Hyland Lake Park Reserve.
• Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area Winter recreation facility offering downhill skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and cross-country skiing with lit beginner slopes, terrain parks, and equipment rentals at Elm Creek Park Reserve.
• Nature School Outdoor, inquiry-based preschool program for children ages 4-6 held at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, fostering connections with nature through year-round outdoor exploration and play.
• Wedding and Rental Spaces Indoor and outdoor venue rentals including chalets, pavilions, picnic areas, and nature center rooms for weddings, corporate events, meetings, and family gatherings across park properties.
• Recreation Passes and Permits Annual and daily passes for archery, boating, cross-country skiing, disc golf, dog off-leash areas, downhill skiing, golfing, horseback riding, snowboarding, snowmobiling, swimming, and photography permits.
• Recreation Pass Plus Fee assistance program providing free equipment rentals and recreation passes, plus discounts on programs and events for families and individuals in Hennepin County experiencing financial difficulty.
• Volunteer Programs Volunteer opportunities including natural resources monitoring, animal care, program assistance, stewardship projects, scout award projects, and group volunteer opportunities, engaging approximately 800 ongoing volunteers contributing 40,000 hours annually.
• Fee Assistance Programs Multiple fee assistance options including Recreation Pass Plus, Military Pass, Program Fee Assistance, First Tee golf scholarships, First Tracks ski scholarships, and Transportation Fee Assistance for qualifying groups.
• Gateway Center Newly constructed visitor center at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park with wraparound deck, interactive exhibits, and access to the Treetop Trail, serving as the main visitor hub for the park.
• Online Reservation and Registration System Self-service online platform (go.threeriversparks.org) for booking programs, equipment rentals, recreation passes, camping reservations, wedding/rental spaces, and summer camp registration, with a newly launched visual, user-friendly interface.

Quantifiable outcome

• On average 800 ongoing volunteers dedicate 40,000 hours annually to programs and services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scott CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleary Lake Regional Park is operated under a joint powers agreement between Scott County and Three Rivers Park District, combining resources for park management and operations.
• City of BloomingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs of January 1, 2025, Three Rivers manages Bush Lake Park (including Bush Lake Beach) and Normandale Lake Park under cooperative agreement with City of Bloomington to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs.
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for aquatic invasive species management, woodland restoration projects, deer study research, and conservation efforts. DNR provides funding through grants and collaborative management.
• Minnehaha Creek Watershed DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on aquatic invasive species prevention and management, including watercraft inspection services at certain boat accesses.
• Lake Minnetonka Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide watercraft inspection services at Lake Minnetonka boat accesses to prevent spread of aquatic invasive species.
• City of PlymouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for watercraft inspection services at City of Plymouth boat accesses for aquatic invasive species prevention.
• Twin Cities Youth Rowing ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBryant Lake Regional Park serves as training site for Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club, supporting youth athletics and community use of park facilities.
• Anoka County ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMississippi Gateway Regional Park trails connect to trails operated by Anoka County Parks, extending recreational opportunities across jurisdictions.
• University of MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree Rivers is partnering with University of Minnesota on research to monitor white-tailed deer for SARS-CoV-2 virus, habitat use, and movement in and around Elm Creek Park Reserve.
• City of Victoria, Carver County, Minnesota Department of TransportationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Highway 5/County Road 11 roundabout construction project near Carver Park Reserve, part of City's Downtown West Improvement Project.
• West Mississippi Watershed Management OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in shoreline restoration project at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, providing funding and watershed management expertise.
• Paddle Share ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMississippi River Paddle Share Program partnered with Three Rivers to offer kayak rentals to experienced paddlers at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park and River Park.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board: Operates the city of Minneapolis's park system immediately adjacent to Three Rivers' western Twin Cities footprint. Both serve overlapping metro residents with comparable recreation, nature education, and aquatic programming, and frequently partner on regional trail connectivity.
• Great Parks of Hamilton County: A regional park district serving Greater Cincinnati with a similar mandate of park operations, nature centers, golf, camping, and outdoor education. Operates with comparable public funding model and provides a useful benchmark for governance, programming, and financial scale.
• Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority (Metroparks): Regional park system serving the Detroit metro area with 13 parks, nature centers, golf, and recreation programming. Closely analogous in mission, funding model, and acreage scale to Three Rivers.
• Fairfax County Park Authority: County-level park authority managing 23,000+ acres, multiple nature centers, recreation centers, and historic sites in the Washington DC metro. Comparable in scale, programmatic breadth, and government funding model.
• Metro Parks Tacoma: Municipal park system operating expansive waterfront and inland parks with nature centers, pools, golf, and environmental education. Comparable mid-sized regional park operation focused on urban-adjacent nature access.

Broad incumbents

• Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission: Bi-county park and planning authority managing 70+ parks and 270+ facilities across Prince George's and Montgomery counties. Significantly larger scale and broader urban planning mandate, but operates comparable park programming and is funded through similar dedicated tax mechanisms.
• National Park Service: Federal agency managing 400+ national parks and providing nature education, trails, and outdoor recreation. Provides the federal funding partnership and broader policy framework within which Three Rivers and other regional park systems operate.

Emerging players

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating and protecting parks and green space, particularly in urban areas. Works with municipal park agencies on land acquisition and conservation that often expands regional park footprints analogous to Three Rivers' intergovernmental partnerships.

Others

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Member-supported nonprofit operating outdoor recreation facilities, trails, huts, and environmental education programs across the Northeast. Comparable in offering nature schools, volunteer stewardship, and fee-based programming, though structured as a nonprofit rather than a public district.
• REI Co-op: Outdoor recreation retailer and experience provider with extensive outdoor education programming, gear rentals, and trip services. Represents the private-sector counterpart for outdoor recreation demand Three Rivers serves, including partnerships on equipment rental and programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/threeriverspark
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ThreeRiversParks
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThreeRiversParkDistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/three-rivers-park-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/threeriversparks

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Three Rivers Park District