Special places pages

FMR maintains over three dozen habitat restoration and land protection sites in the metro area. Find out more about some of these special places below. 

You can also see a map of all of our protection and restoration sites and learn more about our approach and Land Conservation program.

Special places pages
Spring Lake Park Reserve
November 8, 2022
At Dakota County's Spring Lake Park Reserve along the bluffs of the Mississippi River, our oak forest and prairie restorations are home to more than 80 native plant species. Read more
Spring Lake Park Reserve wildflowers
South Branch Vermillion River Aquatic Management Area
June 16, 2022

Located along a newly re-meandered stretch of the South Branch of the Vermillion River, this 24-acre woodland-turned-savanna is now a showcase for successful savanna restoration.  >>

Read more
South Branch Vermillion River AMA
William H. Houlton Conservation Area
June 14, 2022

At the William H. Houlton Conservation Area — one of the largest undeveloped riverfront properties in the metro — we're restoring 160 acres of soybean field and grazed grasslands into prairie and oak savanna, plus stewarding over 150 acres of upland and floodplain forest at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi rivers.  >>

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Blooming flowers and grasses
Orvin 'Ole' Olson Park
April 7, 2022

This former railyard is now a restored prairie on the Mississippi River in North Minneapolis. Along with the pollinator demonstration garden, Ole Olson Park adds vital habitat to our urban corridor and a beautiful riverfront spot for residents.  >>

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Prairie, Mississippi River, person, and Minneapolis Skyline
Vermillion River Linear Park
April 6, 2022
Located along the Vermillion River and the Greenway trail in Hastings, this park's connection to the river and historical roots as a prairie have led us to work with local students and partners to restore its diverse habitats. Read more
Gray-headed coneflowers in a prairie at Vermillion River Linear Park
Wakáŋ Tipi / Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary
March 4, 2022

Beside riverfront railroads and beneath blufftop Dakota burial mounds, this St. Paul natural area is a sacred place. We're partnering with Native-led Wakáŋ Tipi Awaŋyaŋkapi to restore its habitat with culturally important practices and plants to better honor the site's history and ongoing importance to Dakota people.  >>

Read more
Prairie at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary
Old Mill Park
January 27, 2022
Part of a habitat corridor through the heart of Hastings, this 10-acre park is home to the first mill on the banks of the Vermillion River, an important tributary of the Mississippi. Visitors can find mill ruins and restored oak savanna and prairie. Read more
Mill ruins and the Vermillion River

Pages

Upcoming Events

Pull garlic mustard at Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area [FULL]
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area
Tend the oak woodlands at the Hastings Sand Coulee SNA [FULL]
Thursday, May 9, 2024 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area
Pledge to pull garlic mustard at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA [FULL]
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Pine Bend Bluffs SNA, Inver Grove Heights

See all Upcoming Events