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NEWSLETTER / AUGUST 2023
Pilot Program Trains the Green Workforce of the Future
 Cities are increasingly building green infrastructure but lack the workforce to maintain it. A new summer youth employment program co-created by the MWMO and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) could help change that.
The Green Infrastructure Inspection Team (GRIIT) is a pilot program to train high-school-age youth on how to inspect and maintain green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) like raingardens and swales. It’s an extension of the Mississippi River Green Team, the joint MWMO/MPRB program that provides Minneapolis teens with a mentored job experience in conservation.
This summer, the pioneering GRIIT team members inspected more than 300 GSI features at dozens of Minneapolis parks. In addition to performing maintenance, the team developed a database that will help MPRB make decisions about future maintenance needs.
Read Our Blog Post >
Partners Break Ground on Graco Park
 The ground has officially been broken at Graco Park, a future 9-acre riverfront park in Northeast Minneapolis.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board held a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 29 at the former industrial site, which is located across from Hall's Island and just north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge.
The MWMO is providing $480,000 for habitat restoration and stormwater management at the park. The MWMO grant will fund native plants and trees, stormwater infiltration basins, a low-maintenance pollinator lawn, and a geothermal-powered snowmelt system for portions of the sidewalk and plaza.
Graco Park is expected to initially open in fall 2024, and a new park building and trail underpass connection to Boom Island Park is expected to open in fall 2025.
Learn More >
How to Take Advantage of the Fall Planting Season
 Late summer/early fall is a great time for planting and seeding your yard, and the fall planting season has some distinct advantages over the spring.
Fall is an ideal time to plant most shrubs and trees. In the fall, plants devote most of their energy to establishing robust root systems, which helps set the new plantings up for success in the spring. It's also a good time to split clumps of native grasses for transplanting.
Mid-August to mid-September is the perfect time to plant grass seed. The season’s moderate temperatures help the seeds germinate while established plants and weeds are going dormant.
Finally, if you want to make your yard a bit more pollinator-friendly for next year, consider planting some native grasses or wildflowers, or try our easy bee lawn overseeding method.
Staff Updates
Farewell to Connor Price
The MWMO bid a fond farewell to Intern Connor Price this month. Connor started in April as a temporary administrative and operations specialist before moving to his role as a water quality monitoring intern for the summer.
Connor’s positive attitude and enthusiasm for learning new tasks were a great help to the MWMO team this year. We wish him luck as he heads back to the University of Minnesota to finish his degree in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management.
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Upcoming Events
 Longfellow River Gorge Festival
Celebrate the Mississippi River Gorge at the annual Longfellow River Gorge Festival. MWMO Artist-in-Residence Sarah Nassif will be there facilitating her current community art project, The Felted Watershed.
- Sunday, Sept. 10, Noon–4 p.m. W. River Pkwy. and E. 36th St.
Smart Salting Training
Earn your Smart Salting Certification by learning best practices for managing snow and ice. The MWMO sponsors several different types of smart salting professional training workshops with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
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Smart Salting for Roads — Tuesday, Sept. 19, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. (Register)
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Smart Salting for Parking Lots & Sidewalks — Tuesday, Oct. 10, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. (Register)
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Smart Salting for Property Managers — Tuesday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (Register)
Additional training opportunities may be available through other organizations. Check the MPCA’s training calendar.
Rainbarrels, Raingardens, and Bioswales, Oh My…
Join MWMO staff at the Eastside Food Co-op to learn about what you can do in yards and community spaces to protect water quality and increase habitat.
- Tuesday, Sept. 19, 5 p.m.–6 p.m. at Eastside Food Co-op (Register)
Volunteer Restoration Events at Sheridan Memorial Park
Help restore native habitat at Sheridan Memorial Park in Northeast Minneapolis with the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization, which will host two volunteer events in September.
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Tending Event: Thursday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m.–8 p.m.
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Planting Event: Wednesday, Sept. 20, 6 p.m.–8 p.m.
Friends of the Mississippi River will brief volunteers on plant identification and removal and provide an overview of restoration plans for the park. Gloves, bags, tools, snacks and water will be provided.
Registration is required and space is limited.
Learn More & Sign Up >
Grant Application Deadlines
Photo of the Month
 The 2023 Mississippi River Green Team members and supervisors (in yellow) wrapped up their summer activities last week. The MWMO and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board created the Green Team as an opportunity for youth to have a mentored job experience, learn about environmental careers and acquire new skills. The program is now in its 16th year.
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