The Great River Passage is a City-led initiative whose vision is a vibrant, accessible and protected Saint Paul riverfront. To achieve this, we are taking a comprehensive, integrated approach to connecting two of our city’s greatest assets – our people and the Mississippi River.
As the third-largest river in the world, the Mississippi River and its 2,300 miles of shoreline is often referred to as America’s Fourth Coast. Saint Paul is one of only two capital cities on the Mississippi River, and Minnesota is home to its headwaters. With more than 3,500 acres of parkland along the river, we see an opportunity for the City of Saint Paul to bring vibrancy to its riverfront - but this initiative does not exist in isolation. Our success lies in partnering with land owners, jurisdictions and private business owners along the river.
The Initiative values building a river community through:
- Equity
- Environmental, community and cultural health
- Education
- Access
Past Work
In 2013, the City of Saint Paul adopted the Great River Passage Long-Range Plan – a comprehensive framework for creating vibrancy in the city’s 3,500 acres of parkland along the river. A companion Great River Passage Interpretive Plan was completed in 2015. Both serve as guiding documents for the Great River Passage initiative.
Projects
Three capital projects will transform Saint Paul’s riverfront into centers of river-oriented activity that provide diverse, authentic landscapes and experiences.
Great River Passage Conservancy
To support this work, the City of Saint Paul partners with the Great River Passage Conservancy, the initiative’s independent nonprofit fundraising and advocacy arm.
