ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - Online voting is open to pick the winning design for a new Minnesota state parks and trails license plate. Three finalists were selected Monday, June 27: Dock, Tent and Itasca.
The new license plates will be available in October as part of the ongoing celebration of Minnesota state parks and trails’ 125th anniversary. The cost of the new plates will start at $60, plus tax. This total includes a one-time $10 fee for the plate itself and a minimum $50 contribution, renewable annually.
The plates give your car unlimited access to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas for the year, replacing the need for a $25 vehicle permit. Proceeds from license plate sales will benefit Minnesota state parks and trails.
More than 80 parks and trails license plate designs were submitted and a panel of judges narrowed the designs down to three, based on the following criteria:
Creativity
Quality
Representation of Minnesota state parks and trails
Suitability as a license plate image
“It has been exciting to see all the creative ways people represented Minnesota state parks and trails in their license plate designs,” said Erika Rivers, director of the Parks and Trails Division at the Department of Natural Resources. “Now it’s up to the voters to choose a winner.”
You can cast a vote for the winning plate by 5 p.m. Monday, July 4, at www.mndnr.gov/parksplate. The winner will be announced Wednesday, July 6.