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North Minneapolis Trail Connection |
Construction begins next week on new North Minneapolis riverfront trail connection
 A diagram showing the approximate location of the upcoming trail connection between Ole Olson Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook
Project will create a new trail connection between Ole Olson Park and 26th Avenue North Overlook
Construction begins next week on a new riverfront trail segment connecting Ole Olson Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook!
This project will create a new 1,000-foot trail connection to extend a popular riverfront regional trail past the end of West River Road and add new riverside experiences in North Minneapolis.
It will connect the 26th Avenue North Overlook, which opened in 2021, to the downtown riverfront and the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, the 51-mile continuous bike/walk trail that encircles most of Minneapolis. It will also connect to the off-street trail on 26th Avenue North, which travels across all of North Minneapolis between the Mississippi River and Theodore Wirth Regional Park.
Construction Details
Contractors are scheduled to begin work on Monday, July 8, 2024. The new trail will take people down the riverbank, under the BNSF railway bridge, and back up to street level on either side of the connection. This will require significant grading so that the trail has a safe incline and sightlines. Construction will begin with strategic tree clearing over portions of the site. Tree removal is unavoidable, however, efforts were made to keep as many trees in place as possible.
Work is scheduled to be complete by late fall 2024, though that may be impacted by wetter than usual weather. Please stay clear of the work area. The Overlook and the trails along West River Road up to Ole Olson Park will remain open.
 An illustration shows the upcoming trail traveling under the railroad bridge north of Ole Olson Park
Park Development Timeline
2002: The land for Ole Olson Park (originally called Skyline Park) was acquired by the MPRB as part of Above the Falls Master Plan, which laid out a vision for acquiring more Mississippi Riverfront parkland north of St. Anthony Falls and connecting it via trail extensions.
2006: The park was officially renamed to Orvin "Ole" Olson Park. Olson was a longtime MPRB Commissioner who championed land acquisition and park development along the Minneapolis riverfront.
2007: Ole Olson Park was developed with benches and pathways.
2018: The City of Minneapolis completed a full reconstruction of 26th Avenue North, which includes an off-street trail across all of North Minneapolis that connects Theodore Wirth Regional Park, Farview Park, and the Mississippi River.
2020: The MPRB received a $3 million grant in the 2020 state infrastructure bill to help build a trail connection between the 26th Avenue North Overlook and Ole Olson Park.
2021: The 26th Avenue North Overlook was completed. The river overlook platform centers around a 35-foot-tall riverfront beacon that is lit at night during non-migratory periods.
2022: The MPRB hosts open houses, site tours, online survey and public hearing to collect feedback on the design of the new trail connection.
2023: An agreement is reached with Continental Cement Company that allows the trail on Continental property.
2024: An agreement is reached with BNSF Railway Company that allows the trail on BNSF property and under its bridge and construction begins.
2025: The new trail connection between Ole Olson Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook is expected to open.
Project Manager
Tyler Pederson
612-499-9084 | tpederson@minneapolisparks.org
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