Enhancing a Green Downtown
Beautiful, well maintained greening elements soften the edges of our downtown making it feel more human in scale, promoting way-finding, and connecting the many highlights and neighborhoods of our city. DID looks for opportunities to advocate for greening at the policy level, provide sustainable greening in the public right of way and encourage greening on private properties. It aligns with the Intersections: The Downtown 2025 Plan goal to enhance the greening and public realm of downtown through various projects by the year 2025.
Using Resources Wisely
Greening Initiatives
Downtown Mpls has been the donut hole in the city's tree canopy for generations. Not enough trees have been planted, and too many of the trees that have been planted haven't survived or matured. This has serious implications for public health, the urban heat island effect, our natural environment, and the beauty of our public realm. Fortunately, there is a rising tide of support and investment to change that.
Starting in 2017, the DID has been working on a series of street tree pilot projects with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Green Minneapolis, the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, and downtown neighborhood associations.
You can help!
Adopt a Tree
With more financial support, our weekly watering program could expand to serve more of downtown's neighborhoods. Please contact [email protected] for more information about the adopt a tree program.
Text a Tree
When you see a tree tag downtown, give that tree a shout out! Text 612.913.4800, learn more about the tree, and use the hashtag #greeninglab to raise awareness that our plucky young trees are part of our growing downtown forest!
Join the Team
If you care about this too, we want to hear from you! There are lots of opportunities to improve the downtown forest and many ways to contribute. Send a note to [email protected], or check out the calendar below, to get more information about how you can get involved.
