Washington County hosted a kayaking event this spring where registration was “prioritized” for people of certain races and sexual orientations.
“Registration is prioritized for Washington County residents that identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, ages 65 years or older, low-income (annual income of 60K or less), LGBTQ+, and/or persons with a disability,” the county’s website says.
Washington County hosted a repeated kayaking event where registration was prioritized for "Black, Indigenous, People of Color, ages 65 years or older, low-income (annual income of 60K or less), LGBTQ+, and/or persons with a disability." pic.twitter.com/84JsZAQbNU
— Hayley Feland (@HayleyFeland) June 6, 2025
The free event, called Learn to Paddle, was held on May 25, May 26, and June 5 at Square Lake Park and Lake Elmo Park Reserve. “Participants will learn how to paddle and safely navigate one of Minnesota’s lakes via kayak. Friendly instruction offered through Wild Rivers Conservancy.”
When asked if the county views the event listing as discriminatory, parks manager JJ Williams said the “program is not exclusive and welcomes all participants.”
“The Learn to Paddle program is funded through the Metropolitan Council’s Equity Grant Program, which is a competitive grant designed to improve equitable access to the regional park system,” Williams said. “Addressing access for underrepresented groups is a requirement of the grant.”
The Metropolitan Council awarded $2,068,000 in 2024 as part of its Equity Grant Program. “The Equity Grant Program provides funding to regional parks agencies for capital and noncapital projects that will strengthen equitable usage of regional parks and trails by all our region’s residents, across age, race, ethnicity, income, national origin, and ability,” the Metropolitan Council’s website says.
According to documents from the Metropolitan Council, Washington County received $20,000 for “Water Safety Outreach Programs” under the grant.
Another component of the county’s equity programming is called “BIPOC Connect,” which consists of “free get-togethers in the parks that is open to everyone with the goal of welcoming Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) into outdoor spaces.”
One of the upcoming BIPOC Connect events is a family-friendly birding event that Washington County advertised as a way to “foster an inclusive space for all with emphasis on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.”
As part of the Metropolitan Council Equity Grant Program, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board received $160,000 to create “new maps and interpretive panels for the 55 kiosks located along the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway System.” The panels were updated to include an “Indigenous land, people, and nations acknowledgement statement,” among other things, according to the project summary.
The Metropolitan Council awarded over $2 million in equity grants in 2021 and $300,000 in 2019.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
