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Mississippi Flyway - Habitat
Enhancement Pilot |
 A map of Mississippi Flyway projects coming to North Minneapolis parks
Late last summer, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) launched a project to build and enhance habitat connections within the Mississippi Flyway and 26th Avenue habitat corridor in North Minneapolis.
After considering feedback on where habitat should go within the corridor, along with possible coordination with other projects, locations for the pilot project have been selected.
Farview, Glen Gale, and Jordan parks will incorporate new habitat as part of improvements projects that are underway at each location. Strategically reducing turf grass in some areas at each park will allow space for varied habitats to support birds that migrate along the Mississippi Flyway, as well as pollinators and other wildlife. See below for more details.
Construction is planned for summer and fall 2025 at each location.
Farview Park
A new trail will lead through the planned adventure hillside play area, weaving through newly established woodland/mesic oak forest and oak savanna habitats. The trail will culminate at top of the hill: One of the highest points in Minneapolis, this little-known Northside gem offers stunning views of the Mississippi River, downtown skyline and beyond.
Habitats to be created:
- Prairie/Pollinator
- Woodland/Mesic Oak
- Oak Savannah
Check out the Farview concept plan for more details.
Glen Gale Park
Improvements at this location will integrate new wetland/prairie plantings with stormwater filtration areas and also include pollinator plantings surrounding the playground and other amenities that are park of the planned improvements project.
Habitats to be created:
- Pollinator
- Wetland & upland prairie
Check out the Glen Gale concept plan for more details.
Jordan Park
Enhancing the new wading pool and restroom/storage building that opened in summer 2024, this project will include a small pollinator planting in front of the building. Additionally, art panels showcasing pollinator species will be designed and installed this summer as part of a related artist/community-based project. MPRB will share information on getting involved soon!
Habitats to be created:
Interested in learning more about the different habitats?
Check out the habitat flashcards.
Project Background
This pilot project will enhance connectivity within the Mississippi Flyway by linking urban neighborhood parks to the Mississippi River through habitat expansion within the 26th Avenue North corridor.
The Mississippi Flyway is a migration route between Canada and the Gulf of Mexico that follows the Mississippi River for much of the way, including through Minnesota. Millions of birds use the Flyway each year during their spring and fall migrations.
The MPRB identified the 26th Avenue North corridor and nine other corridors across the city that connect parks with a lot of existing and or water habitat.
To determine which of those ten corridors to prioritize, a joint technical and project advisory committee made up of MPRB staff, other agencies, and related community organizations developed a set of criteria to rate each corridor based on categories that included habitat and environment, equity, Green Zones, connections, and opportunities. The 26th Avenue North corridor rated the highest.
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This project is funded through a grant from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund, recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.
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Project Managers
Mississippi Flyway Habitat Enhancement/Connectivity:
Madeline Hudek | 612-230-6413 | mhudek@minneapolisparks.org
Improvements at Farview, Glen Gale and Jordan parks:
Crystal Passi | cpassi@minneapolisparks.org | 612-230-6455
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