$1 Million National Park Service Investment in Twin Cities Projects along the Mississippi River

News Release Date:
December 9, 2024

Contact: Forest Eidbo, 651-293-8458

Saint Paul, MN - In a boost to river recreation and trails, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) has announced the award of $1,086,500 in grants to local Twin Cities communities. This funding aims to expand river access, enhance safety, and improve the qualities that make the 72 miles of the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities a unit of the National Park Service.

The NRRA Superintendent, Tucker Blythe, emphasized the importance of partnership in these grants for local communities, stating, "This funding is more than just dollars, it showcases the partnership between the National Park Service and local communities. Together, we are preserving one of the nation's treasures and empowering residents to connect with the outdoors for generations to come."

Projects Funded

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

$640,000 to place the East Bank Trail under Plymouth Avenue at Boom Island Park and Graco Park, drastically improving safety for trail users by eliminating the need to cross busy Plymouth Avenue.

$45,000 for the development of a non-motorized water access point upstream of Lock and Dam 1, allowing for portaging around Lock and Dam 1 due to its reduced lockage hours.

City of Saint Paul:

$250,000 for the reconstruction and enhancement of the Sam Morgan Trail at Lower Landing Park.

City of Dayton:

$100,000 for an accessible non-motorized water access point at Goodin Park. Funding is supported by the National Park Service's Connect Trails to Parks program.

Three Rivers Park District:

$36,000 for trail support facilities, such as maps and bike repair stations, along the Mississippi River Trail.

City of Hastings:

$15,500 for an accessible canoe and kayak launch at Lake Rebecca Regional Park, matched for a total of $31,000 with support from the National Park Foundation and Mississippi Park Connection.

About the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

Established on November 18, 1988, the NRRA protects, preserves, and enhances the 72 miles of the Mississippi River through the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The National Park Service (NPS) manages the park primarily through partnership with local governments within the park boundaries and manages less than 100 acres across multiple island and upland units. The grants awarded by the NRRA are exclusively for projects sponsored by state agencies, park districts and municipalities that are within the boundaries of the NRRA and support the preservation, protection, or enhancement of the historical, recreational, scenic, cultural, natural, economic, and scientific resources of the Mississippi River. Visit - Your Dollars At Work - Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) for more information.

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