 The prescribed burn will take place in areas labelled G1 and G2 on this map, courtesy of Friends of the Mississippi River.
People on Nicollet Island and nearby areas along the Mississippi River may smell or see smoke during an upcoming prescribed burn in portions of Nicollet Island Park.
The burn was originally planned for November 2023, but was delayed due to weather conditions.
Now it's planned to take place between Monday, April 8and Friday, April 19 in grassland areas labelled G1 and G2 in the map above, east of DeLaSalle High School and at the northern tip of the island.
It is part of ongoing maintenance for these natural areas of the park, as well as part of a restoration plan implemented by Friends of the Mississippi River, an MPRB partner.
The objective of the burn is to suppress weedy plant species and cool season grasses that are still actively growing in the fall. These grassland areas will be seeded after the burn to prevent erosion and further suppress weedy species, then seeded again with native species in 2024.
About Prescribed Burns
Prescribed burns are conducted by a qualified contractor working for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB). The contractor obtains all required permits and notifies police and fire departments at the City of Minneapolis, along with MPRB's customer service and police departments. Notifications are sent both prior to and after the burn. The contractor has MN Department of Natural Resources-trained staff on site, along with necessary fire control equipment.
Prescribed burns are among the management tools MPRB uses in some garden landscapes and natural areas to maintain healthy habitat for native plants and wildlife. When fire is suppressed, invasive plants can take over natural areas and outcompete desirable native wildflowers and grasses. Burning smaller areas in successive years preserves plant material to sustain insects, pollinators and birds.
Thanks for your understanding as MPRB works to maintain Minneapolis parks and natural areas.
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