The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) have tentatively partnered to significantly enhance the natural environment through shoreline restoration and habitat improvements at Ole Olson Park in Minneapolis. The MWMO’s generous $419,960 grant will be used to improve access to the Mississippi River and expand native prairie habitat at the site.
The habitat expansion is a part of a larger regional trail connection project that will link the terminus of the 26th Avenue North Bikeway and the terminus of the West Bank Trail at Ole Olson Park. The 1000-foot trail gap is of great importance to connecting North Minneapolis to the regional system with safe, accessible, and fun trail experiences. The trail project will reshape much of the river’s edge which creates a more accessible and visible space, less steep slopes for increased native prairie plantings, and reduced erosion from the site to the river.
A portion of the MWMO grant funds will be used to mitigate debris laden soils which are prevalent along this stretch of riverfront. This landscape has been highly altered; industrial uses and railyards have flatted the land right up to the river’s edge to create more usable space, which included the import of soils with various debris or rubble. This debris laden material is not ideal for constructing upon and is more susceptible to erosion.
The MWMO and MPRB partnership will help restore and stabilize the site as well as re-connect North Minneapolis communities with the Mississippi River and miles of regional trails and destinations beyond.