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Greening and Public Realm Impacts

We look forward to celebrating the annual Mpls DID Greening and Public Realm awards with you again next year. This week, we will be highlighting the positive impacts greening has on our community. If you are interested, there are several ways you can get involved in improving our public realm, including:

  • Volunteering at an upcoming Downtown Tree Census event
  • Participate in a Downtown Forest Discovery Kit citizen science project
  • Interact with informative tree tags being installed this fall
  • Learn about the impacts of greening on our community

Thank you to everyone who helps make our downtown extraordinary through public and private greening efforts.

Volunteer at the Downtown Tree Census

Adding greening helps our community thrive. Let’s make sure our downtown streets are as healthy, beautiful and green as they can be. Join us for the 2020 annual Downtown Tree Census. Volunteers will be trained in identifying sites for street trees to be replanted next spring. Data collection can be completed any time before Oct. 15 and submitted through a digital texting platform. Volunteers receive a Tree-Lover Prize Pack to help us compile a crucial record of year-over-year changes in the condition of downtown street trees. The Downtown Tree Census is produced in partnership with Mpls DID, Green Minneapolis, Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, and Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. Email [email protected] to learn more.

  • Oct. 3 – The Commons – 10-10:30 am
  • Oct. 3 – Elliot Park – 11-11:30 am
  • Oct. 10 – Loring Park -  10-10:30 am
  • Oct. 10 – North Loop, 3rd St. N outside Corner Coffee – 11-11:30 am

Did you know? Green spaces, trees, and other landscaping make our downtown a more livable place. Mpls DID continues to work together with our community in helping add greening to #mplsdowntown. Thanks to those who are working to create a greener downtown community.

Recent Greening Additions

There continues to be great work being done adding significant greening to #mplsdowntown. These projects added significant greening this year.

About Greening & Public Realm Awards

The Annual Greening and Public Realm Awards are an initiative of the Mpls Downtown Improvement District to celebrate the outstanding examples of private greening and placemaking happening in downtown Minneapolis, and are intended to inspire all to work towards making downtown a greener and more vibrant place. Unlike the world-class park system that weaves thru our city’s neighborhoods, downtown is lacking in parks and green space to support our growing residential, business and visitor populations. We believe if each building in downtown was to place a single entryway planter on their property, the impact on the public realm would be tremendous and the work done by Mpls DID, Minneapolis Park Board and others would be strengthened.

By participating in the Annual Greening and Public Realm Awards you can help recognize the properties, businesses, and community groups who have created and maintained greening projects that contribute to a more beautiful downtown. 

2019 Greening & Public Realm Award Winners

Small Activated Space

  • Mill City Farmers Market* - 47.35%
  • Gethsemane Community Garden – 40.24%
  • Open Book Parklet* - 12.41%

Small Green Space

  • Gateway Park* - 50.76%
  • Hennepin Healthcare Pocket Park – 21.28%
  • WCCO Plaza – 21.12%
  • RSM Plaza – Pocket Park* - 6.84%

Large Activated Space

  • Loring Park – 36.96%
  • The Commons – 32.34%
  • Nicollet 21.76%
  • Hennepin County Government Center – 8.94%

Large Green Space

  • Loring Greenway – 49.22%
  • Peavey Plaza – 21.72%
  • Gold Medal Park – 21.02%
  • Triangle Park – 8.04%

Façade Greening

  • The Local – 47.86%
  • Lenox Brownstones – 27.77%
  • Borealis North Loop Apartments* - 24.37%

Public Art

  • Nimbus* - 56.37%
  • Radical Playground* - 27.89%
  • Hennepin Theatre Trust – It’s the People* - 15.74%

Outdoor Café

  • Barrio* - 28.10%
  • The News Room – 27.64%
  • Bachelor Farmer Café – 25.08%
  • The Freehouse* - 19.18%

Streetscape

  • Grant Park Median* - 48.26%
  • Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot* - 35.80%
  • HQ Apartments – 15.93%

Streetscape Infrastructure

  • Minneapolis Convention Center – 44.41%
  • Hennepin-Lyndale Crossroads – 37.16%
  • North Loop Washington Avenue* - 18.43%

Entryway Greening

  • Demi (Parking Lot)* - 45.85%
  • The Marquette Hotel – 32.36%
  • Canopy by Hilton* - 11.22%
  • Cynthia Froid Group – 10.57%

Public Realm Improvement

  • Peavey Plaza – 49.21%
  • Borealis North Loop Apartments – 14.82%
  • Nimbus – 12.37%
  • Hennepin Theatre Trust – It’s the People – 5.61%
  • Grant Park Median – 4.89%
  • Barrio – 4.46%
  • Radical Playground – 4.17%
  • Open Book Parklet – 2.88%
  • RSM Plaza – Pocket Park – 1.58%

Best Neighborhood

  • Loring Park – 52.46%
  • North Loop – 14.06%
  • Elliot Park – 13.48%
  • Downtown East – 10.00%
  • Downtown West – 10.00%

 

 

*-First-time in this category