Two Inlets at Bdé Heḣáka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park

In 2022, Trust for Public Land and Sherburne County came together to nearly double the county’s park space by protecting 430 acres near St. Cloud. Today, that land is Two Inlets at Bdé Heháka – Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park, a place where people can connect with nature along prairie and forest trails.

In 2025, we built on that momentum by protecting a 6-acre inholding in the heart of the park, ensuring this landscape remains whole and accessible for generations to come.

But this park is more than a recreational gem. It is also a place of deep cultural meaning. The land is sacred to Dakota and Ojibwe peoples, and TPL and Sherburne County are working closely with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers from the Upper Sioux Community, the Lower Sioux Indian Community, and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to share the site’s historical and contemporary significance. Protecting this land ensures Indigenous communities can connect with their ancestral heritage while creating space for all to learn from and honor these stories.

Together with Sherburne County, we’ve permanently protected this remarkable landscape—expanding access to nature, honoring Indigenous history, and safeguarding Minnesota’s natural beauty for all.

This project was made possible thanks to support from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Natural and Scenic Area Grant Program.