At its September 2, 2020 meeting, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) of Commissioners approved the Ecological System Plan. The plan now serves as the MPRB’s principal policy document regarding environmental performance.
The Ecological System Plan provides a framework for how environmental considerations can be addressed in ongoing planning, operations and management efforts at the MPRB. Its main goals are:
- Compile, create and illustrate city-wide ecological data
- Outline guiding principles for environmental management within the parks
- Challenge community members to rethink the city around them in terms of ecological function, benefit and health
The plan is organized into four main chapters – Water, Air, Land and Life – and includes 50 strategies on a variety of environmental initiatives, including:
- Improving water quality
- Reducing urban heat island
- Helping mitigate climate change
- Reducing human-caused and construction-related impacts on habitat and wildlife
- Enhancing habitat quality and connectivity
The plan also includes additional tools for reducing MPRB’s environmental impact and improving how parks connect to the natural world:
- Multiple detailed maps (soon to be available in an interactive digital format) show how Minneapolis functions ecologically to help with decision making
- Implementation tools ensure that park improvements consider the environment
- A new system of habitat corridors envisions links between neighborhood parks and the lakes and rivers
- A designated MPRB “Plan Champion” will track progress over time and work across the organization to improve environmental performance
The Ecological System Plan will advance environmental goals across Minneapolis’ 6,800+ acre park system. Use the links below to view the plan in full:
View Ecological System Plan
- Chapters 1-5 [PDF]
- Chapter 6 and Appendix [PDF]