Coke donates $100,000 to Minnesota state park

ELY, Minn. (AP) — Coca-Cola has donated $100,000 to a relatively unknown Minnesota state park.

Bear Head Lake State Park near Ely (EE'-lee) was voted "America's Favorite Park" in a nationwide online campaign sponsored by Coca-Cola.

Coke officials presented a ceremonial $100,000 check to Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Holsten and park manager Jen Westlund in St. Paul Thursday.

Westlund says the gift will be used to build a trail center in Bear Head Lake State Park, which has about 100,000 visitors a year. It beat Great Smoky Mountains National Park by more than 500,000 votes.

Holsten is crediting the more than 111,000 Facebook fans of Lily and Hope, the Ely-area research bears. Fans of the bears campaigned for the park, where the bears spend some of their time.

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