The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board of Commissioners (MPRB) will hold a Public Hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 pm to hear public comments on the Grand Rounds Missing Link Concept Plan and Phase One Implementation of the Grand Rounds Missing Link, as approved in the East of the River Parks Plan.
The hearing will take place in the Board Room of the Mary Merrill Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Headquarters, 2117 West River Road.
Participate in the Public Hearing
Speak in person: Go to Mary Merrill MPRB Headquarters on the day of the hearing and add your name to the sign-up sheet at the front desk. Individuals who would like to provide comments to the Board of Commissioners about the naming may sign up to speak at the meeting before 6:30 pm.
You may also call 612-230-6400 before 3 pm on the day of the hearing to sign up to speak.
Email written comments: Email your comments to opentime@minneapolisparks.org by 3 pm on the day of the hearing. Comments will be included in the public record of the meeting.
About the Project
The Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway circles almost all of Minneapolis in 51 miles of continuous parkway and bike and walk trails. It travels along the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Creek, Chain of Lakes, Theodore Wirth Regional Park, Victory Memorial and St. Anthony Parkways, plus many more parks and natural features. However, there’s a gap in NE/SE Minneapolis between Stinson Parkway and East River Parkway that has existed for 140+ years.
Several plans were developed over the past 100 years to complete the Grand Rounds, but the trail gap has persisted. In 2009, a planning effort was supported by community members and the MPRB but was never adopted by the Metropolitan Council due to a lack of interagency support for the trail route and vision.
The 2009 Missing Link trail plan was revisited in 2019 as part of creating the East of the River Park Plan, which planned all neighborhood parks in Minneapolis east of the Mississippi River. An updated Missing Link plan was adopted by the MPRB as well as Metropolitan Council at the conclusion of that project.
Over the past two years, the MPRB has worked to develop a concept plan for the corridor, building on the 2019 park plan. The proposed concept plan, which consists of four connected segments, includes bicycle and pedestrian trail facilities, parkland development and expansion, restored habitat, wayfinding, lighting and stormwater management to connect residents, businesses and workforce centers to the Grand Rounds with year-round multi-modal recreation opportunities. A first phase of implementation is anticipated for 2027-2028, with future phases to be implemented as funding is available.
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
2117 West River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55411
612-230-6400 | info@minneapolisparks.org