Overview

At 17 miles, Saint Paul has more miles of Mississippi River Valley than any other municipality along the entire length of the river.  The valley includes vibrant neighborhoods, active commercial sites, important transportation corridors and a series of 16 public parks providing over 3,500 acres of flood plain and bluff tops for wildlife habitat, scenic views, outdoor recreation, and special events.
 
Until now, these incredible assets have been often viewed as individual parks and development sites.  Saint Paul’s Division of Parks and Recreation will collaborate with the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation and the Saint Paul Department of Planning and Economic Development to lead a community effort to transform this valuable collection of parks, natural resources, cultural amenities and community sites into a single “National Great River Park,” a defining feature of Minnesota’s Capital City.

The year-long process will review all pertinent river plans and development guidelines, and examine the potential beneficial relationships and opportunities the park system offers in blending ecology, economy and community. The National Great River Park plan will create a comprehensive programmatic, development, management, marketing and stewardship plan for Saint Paul’s river parks and trails, look at economic development opportunities and define a series of neighborhood-river connection opportunities.

The plan will be built upon four key principles, that the National Great River Park should be both
· More Natural and
· More Urban,
that elements should be
· More Connected
and that the Great River Park should be developed and marketed as a
· Regional and National Asset and Responsibility.