Save River Heights Park... again.
Special Places: The Central Mpls. riverfront
Downtown Minneapolis glows above the Mississippi at the end of the Stone Arch Bridge.
To celebrate our 25th year, each month in 2018 FMR staff will profile places along the metro Mississippi River that are near and dear to us, places that connect to FMR but that we also enjoy in our own downtime. By the end of our silver year, we'll have built a map of 25 special river places for you and yours to learn about, visit and enjoy.
This month: Minneapolis’ Central riverfront.
Venture along with us to a few downtown Minneapolis riverfront icons — Nicollet Island, the Stone Arch Bridge and the Mill District. Many of you have been here before, but along the way, we'll be sure to point out lesser-known spots and facts and the scoop on changes to come. >>
Special Places: Minneapolis' riverfront Above the Falls
View from the Lowry Bridge in North and Northeast Minneapolis looking south towards downtown.
To celebrate our 25th year, each month in 2018 FMR staff will profile places along the metro Mississippi River that are near and dear to us, places that connect to FMR but that we also enjoy in our own downtime. By the end of our silver year, we'll have built a map of 25 special river places for you and yours to learn about, visit and enjoy.
This month: Minneapolis’s riverfront Above the Falls.
The Minneapolis riverfront north of St. Anthony Falls is an interesting juxtaposition of the natural, urban and industrial. Here you can enjoy bike and pedestrian trails, or rent a kayak to see a heron rookery, restored prairie, riverfront raingarden parks and sculptures, as well as industrial relics. You'll also want to visit often over the next decade to experience the changing riverfront, as more industrial sites are converted into public parklands.
Help us identify the river views we need to protect
Now through spring 2018, the 25 metro-area cities and towns in our local national park, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, are working to identify scenic river views worth protecting. Once each city has determined its list, they must work to protect these views according to new state rules that protect the metro river corridor. Let's help our cities compile the best list possible!
Check out the views submitted so far, and then tell us about yours or help by contributing a needed photo. >>
Shovels in the ground for three new river destinations
Illustration of Halls Island to-be
Three new destinations are beginning to take shape along the river north of St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, each with something different to offer. Coming up: a reclaimed island (image above), a destination riverfront restaurant, and one fully featured playground. >>
Ford site hearing Sept. 20 & 27 — FMR says 'yes' to density AND more parks!
A new stormwater "stream" is a popular feature of redevelopment plans for the Ford site (see rendering above), but we should also seize this rare opportunity to create more river bluff parkland.
Opportunities to create bluff-top parkland in the heart of a growing city only come along every two or three generations. As draft plans for the Ford site redevelopment along the Mississippi River head to the St. Paul city council, we urge city leaders to seize this opportunity for the benefit of this generation and all those to come. >>
Northside walk to the river
Calling all Northsiders! Join us for a walk and talk about the future of Dowling between the Mighty Mississippi and Lyndale Avenue N. We'll walk and talk about how to make walking and biking easier and more enjoyable in this area so future riverfront parks are more easily accessible by all on the Northside. All are welcome for this event with food, fun and hopefully a bit of sun! Learn more or RSVP now.
Northside walk to the river
Calling all Northsiders! Join us for a walk and talk about the future of Dowling Avenue between the Mighty Mississippi and Lyndale Avenue North. We'll walk and talk about how to make walking and biking easier and more enjoyable in this area so future riverfront parks are more easily accessible by all on the Northside. All are welcome for this event with food, fun and hopefully a bit of sun! Learn more on the event page or RSVP here.
Transition point for N Mpls river reconnection work
Over 60 Northsiders joined us to learn about and discuss ways to reconnect North Minneapolis and the Mighty Mississippi in March 2017.
The FMR advocacy crew is switching gears. After spending 2016 researching how to better connect North Minneapolis with the Mississippi River we're shifting to advocating for those community-identified changes. We marked this transition with a final presentation by FMR's CURA research assistant Eric King and a panel discussion with attendees, covering everything from potential gentrification to a possible land-bridge over Interstate 94.
Unlocking the future of St. Anthony Falls
What's at the end of the rainbow? Our local national park's visitor center at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock. Photo by National Park Conservation Association.
Big ideas are bubbling up to transform the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock in downtown Minneapolis site. Closed to navigation in June 2015, the lock could become the centerpiece of the vibrant riverfront park and neighborhood that surrounds it.