Grand Rounds Missing Link Open Houses
Proposed Missing Link Parkway Routes Shared at Open Houses Presentation, Photos and Drawings Presented to Public
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board invites the public to attend open houses being held to discuss proposed routes for the Grand Rounds-Missing Link parkway in Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis. Open houses are being held 6:30-8:30 p.m., with a presentation from 7-7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, September 18, at Northeast Recreation Center, 1615 Pierce St. NE, Minneapolis, and on Thursday, October 18, at Windom Recreation Center, located within Pillsbury School at 2251 Hayes St. NE, Minneapolis. Both open houses include photos and drawings of the proposed route alternatives, a presentation about the project and a question and answer session. Language accommodations are available upon request; call 612-230-6472 at least 48 hours in advance.
Missing Link Open House Brochure
Project Information
The nationally-recognized Grand Rounds is the only designated urban Scenic Byway in the United States. Over a century old and attracting nearly 15 million visits each year, the Grand Rounds encompasses more than 50 miles of parkway, bicycle and pedestrian trails around the City of Minneapolis. The Missing Link is the gap in the Grand Rounds in the area north of I-94 and east of the Mississippi River.
To launch the project, the MPRB has begun a study phase that includes community input and technical review to select a route to complete the Grand Rounds loop. Among other criteria, proposed routes and designs will be evaluated on neighborhood impact and their connectivity to existing and proposed bicycle and pedestrian routes, park and open spaces, and transportation corridors. The chosen location will result in the development of a Master Plan for the completion of the Missing Link.
A Citizen Advisory Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee, both integral parts of the planning process, were appointed in June and July 2007. The Citizen Advisory Committee is composed of community residents and business owners appointed by Park Board Commissioners, neighborhood organizations, business groups, Hennepin County Commissioners, City Council Members and Mayor Rybak. As part of the planning process, advisory committee members will review and comment on the location and design of the parkway extension, act as liaisons with their respective communities, sponsor open houses, and provide recommendations to the Park Board. Similarly, Technical Advisory Committee members from a number of agencies in the immediate area will make recommendations to the Park Board regarding the plan.
The Missing Link study is scheduled to be completed in spring 2008 and implementation will begin as funds become available.
CONTACT: Dawn Sommers Public Information and Marketing Manager 612-230-6407 dsommers@minneapolisparks.org Janell Wojtowicz Communication Specialist 612-230-6414 jwojtowicz@minneapolisparks.org