Special places

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
Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park

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A forested valley with 100-foot high slopes runs into Ravine Lake at this 515-acre park. We’ve been managing oak savanna and prairie habitat restoration here since 2012.  >>

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Two volunteers at Ravine Lake
Vermillion Falls Park

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At the stunning waterfall after which this park is named, the Vermillion River drops 35 feet, then runs through limestone gorge and forest. We've been managing habitat restoration here since 2019. Find out what's special about this place.  >>

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Vermillion Falls Park
Nicollet Island

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The industrial uses that once dominated the northern half of Nicollet Island have given way to a mix of homes, trails and a beloved park where we're restoring pockets of prairie and a forest of maples and climate-adapted tree species — vital habitat for the downtown Minneapolis river corridor.  >>

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Aerial of Nicollet Island
Hastings River Flats

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Hastings River Flats is located in the floodplain of the Mississippi River, just south of Lock and Dam 2. The parkland includes wetland, floodplain forest, terrace forest, oak savanna and prairie — plus the Mississippi River Greenway. Read more
Wildflowers and Hastings bridge

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Upcoming Events

Wednesday, October 15, 2025 - 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Highland Park Community Center Auditorium, St. Paul
Three options: October 20, October 28, November 22, 2025
Hidden Falls Regional Park, St. Paul
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - 9:00am to 12:00pm
3M's oak woodlands, Cottage Grove