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Nokomis-Hiawatha Park Plan |
Trail connection improvements planned for Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park in 2024
Trail connection improvements at Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park are scheduled to begin in 2024. The improvements are outlined in the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park Master Plan, a long-term vision for Lake Nokomis, Lake Hiawatha and surrounding parkland and trails that was adopted in 2015.
Regional park funding recently became available for trail improvements at Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park, so the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) conducted community engagement throughout summer 2023 on proposed trail upgrades, which were prioritized in the plan. Community engagement included three public open houses and an interactive online tool that collected feedback on proposed trail upgrades.
Project funding may not be enough to support building all proposed trail segments identified through work on the long-term plan and recent public input, so part of the community engagement process asked people to look at proposed concept designs and rank each trail segment in order of most to least preferred.
Potential Nokomis-Hiawatha Trail Improvements
Project areas are ranked below based on community feedback, from most to least preferred. View Project Area Map
- Area C: Trail connection between Nokomis Parkway and Cedar Avenue Bridge*
- Area I: New pedestrian-only bridge over Minnehaha Creek
- Area D: Cedar Avenue Bridge connection and crossing at Nokomis Parkway and 52nd Street
- Area G: Trail crossing at 22nd Avenue and Lake Nokomis Parkway
- Area B: Pedestrian path along Lake Nokomis Parkway (Amelia Pond)
- Area H: Trail connection between Nokomis Community Center and Woodlawn Boulevard**
- Area A: 54th Street Triangle Park connection
- Area E: Improved crossing at Cedar Avenue and 50th Street***
*Area C new walking path under Cedar Avenue Bridge could be built to provide an alternative to the at-grade crossing at Cedar Avenue and Lake Nokomis Parkway if funding is available after constructing other improvement areas. This "bonus project" is noted on the drawings in the Project Area Map linked above.
**Area H is not being considered at this time because this trail segment improvement is dependent upon future implementation of a proposed on-street bike lane on Minnehaha Parkway, as identified in the Minnehaha Parkway Regional Trail Master Plan.
***Area E is not being considered at this time because planning and funding from Hennepin County is critical for this improvement.
Work Underway and Next Steps
Design and field work is happening now to help determine how many of the areas can be constructed in 2024-25.
Staking and Field Surveys
The initial concept drawings for potential trail upgrades used aerial imagery to show the proposed trail alignments. This method is not as accurate as a topographic survey, which are currently underway. Preliminary staking was also recently done at each proposed trail segment to clarify how trail alignment might look in person.
The preliminary staking and topographic surveys will help develop final designs and better identify where adjustments to trail alignment might be necessary.
Protecting Wildlife Habitat
The design team is working with MRPB Forestry and Environmental staff to review all the proposed concepts and preliminary staking. These experts in forestry and environmental stewardship are helping identify areas where adjustments to trail alignment can be made to protect habitat and wildlife, and expand native habitat areas.
The project team recently met with Friends of Lake Hiawatha regarding Area I: New pedestrian-only bridge over Minnehaha Creek. Adjustments will be made to the trail and bridge location to preserve more of the existing vegetation and expand naturalized areas along the creek corridor. Construction activity at the proposed pedestrian bridge will be modified to avoid disturbing nearby owl nesting habitat.
Projected Schedule
Construction drawings are scheduled to be complete in the next few months and construction is expected to begin in summer/fall 2024 and finish in 2025. Any revisions to the proposed trail improvements will be posted on the Nokomis-Hiawatha Trail Improvements project page before work begins.
Project Manager
Jon Duesman
612-230-6471 | jduesman@minneapolisparks.org
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