Mississippi East Bank Trail along Northeast Minneapolis riverfront nearly complete

An important new stretch of riverfront trail in Northeast Minneapolis is nearly complete and generally open for public use.

The Mississippi East Bank Trail was paved earlier this fall, followed by the installation of signage, landscaping and lighting. Some construction tasks still need to be completed along portions of the trail, so please pay attention to signs regarding work in progress.

The two-way, off-street trail takes bicyclists and pedestrians along the Mississippi River between Boom Island Park and the 1600 block of Marshall Street NE. Almost a mile long, it travels through the former Scherer site, behind Graco headquarters and through Sheridan Memorial Park. It curves away from the river south of the BNSF railroad tracks and connects to Marshall Street NE.

This new trail is one segment in a series of Upper Riverfront trail loops envisioned in the RiverFirst initiative. Project funding was provided by a $1 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration through its Transportation, Community and System Preservation Program, along with $600,000 in Metropolitan Council regional park operations and maintenance funds. A $50,000 Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund grant helped remediate onsite soil pollution.