Plank Regional Trail Improvements Repairing the plank road on West River Parkway south of Portland Avenue

In 2003, the entire road and trails (58-foot wide and 600-ft long) were constructed of planks at a cost of over $1 million. In 2010, the 24-foot-wide roadbed portion of the plank road in West River Parkway was removed and replaced with concrete at a cost of approximately $470,000 due to issues with the planks failing.

In 2013, the West River and James I Rice Parkway CAC recommendation was that the plank trail be retained as an iconic interpretive feature of the Mill Ruins Park. It was noted that the trail was failing and in need of repair, but that funding was lacking.  In 2015, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board adopted the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan, which indicated no significant change to the plank trail.

A subsequent study was conducted in 2016 by a consultant on behalf of the MPRB to examine the existing condition of the plank trail, and to evaluate and propose alternatives for its maintenance, repair and replacement. The outcome of the study report was re-engineering the failing plank trail. The re-engineered trail replacement is a multi-year phased project with portions of the plank trail being replaced as funding becomes available.

Sections of the plank road were replaced in 2018 and 2020. In 2024 the remainder of the planks will be replaced.

Plank Road Final Study [PDF]