Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission Annual Report July 2013

Transcription

1 This documet is made available electroically by the Miesota Legislative Referece Library as part of a ogoig digital archivig project. Miesota Mississippi River Parkway Commissio Aual Report July rd Ave S, Suite 101, aite Park, MN Missio The missio of the Mississippi River Parkway Commissio of Miesota is to promote, preserve ad ehace the resources of the Mississippi River Valley ad to develop the highways ad ameities of the Great River Road. The Commissio is orgaized ad guided by Miesota Statute Quarterly Meetigs of the Full Commissio The MN-MRPC held four full Commissio meetigs betwee July 2012 ad July 2013 August 23, 2012; November 29, 2012; February 28, 2013 ad May 23, Each meetig icluded updates from regioal citize Commissioers ad state agecies. ork is carried out by the full Commissio alog with four work groups Capital Improvemet; Ecoomic Developmet; Marketig; ad Orgaizatio. Projects & Activities Great River Road Corridor Maagemet Plaig ad Implemetatio The Commissio was awarded a 2011 Natioal Sceic Byways Grat for Corridor Maagemet Plaig ad Implemetatio. Required matchig fuds are beig provided by the Natioal Park Service. This project will develop a Corridor Maagemet Pla to guide the work of Miesota s Mississippi River Parkway Commissio for the ext years. The project will also implemet a curret CMP key strategy - sigig the Mississippi River Bicycle Trail MRT statewide. Parters iclude the MN-MRPC, MDOT, Natioal Park Service, Miesota Legislative Coordiatig Commissio, ad Trust for Public Lad. The Corridor Maagemet Pla will iclude a ivetory ad map of GRR resources; cofirmed Great River Road Storybook cotet ad locatios; route assessmet ad recommedatios; visitor impressios ad aalysis of visitor eeds; corridor developmet strategies; byway orgaizatio busiess pla; ad commuicatios/public relatios pla. The MRT implemetatio portio of the project icludes sigage; commuity iformatio kiosks, maps ad electroic traveler iformatio. This will be a multi-year project carried out i phases, with completio tetatively plaed for Jue Activity durig 2013 icluded Commissio project review ad discussio; Project Maagemet Team meetigs; defiitio of iformatio to be icluded i GIS resource database; documetatio of fudig flow/matchig fuds; draft Request for Proposal for Corridor Maagemet Plaig services; MRT/USBR 45 sigage discussios/plaig; revised MRT sig pla; muicipal agreemets for sigage i Bluffs Regio Phase I; purchasig of sigs for Phase I; ad redesig of the Natioal Park Service Mississippi River Compaio with GRR ad MRT mappig. Great River Road Visual Resource Protectio Pla Project A Natioal Sceic Byways grat was received by the Mississippi Natioal River ad Recreatio Area MNRRA for this effort. The project will create a Visual Resource Protectio Pla for the Metro Regio of Miesota s Great River Road that will serve as a prototype for protectig visual resources i the byway s six destiatio areas. Durig 2013, process developmet ad beta testig of the viewpoit evaluatio system took place, the public was ivited to submit their favorite Mississippi views i the 72 mile corridor o-lie, by mail or i perso, the top 50 views were idetified ad mapped, views were assessed by staff ad voluteers durig both leaf-off ad leaf-o seasos, ad a public meetig was held to provide iformatio gathered to date ad receive feedback. The fial project report is ow i developmet. It will iclude a overview of the project ad methodology, data gathered, data applicatios, threat ad opportuities, recommeded ifrastructure improvemets, ad recommedatios for future use of the methodology i other areas. The report ad pla will provide iformatio for use as developmet ad lad maagemet decisios are made. The process ad results will be utilized i Corridor Maagemet Plaig for the full legth of the Miesota Great River Road. A project iformatio sheet is attached. Page 1 of 5

2 Iterpretive Paels Desigs have bee fialized for paels to be placed at New Albi, Itasca, Bemidji, St. Cloud, ad Medota locatios. Paels were fabricated ad received durig FY 13 for Medota, St. Cloud ad New Albi. The full project, to be completed i FY 2014, will result i a estimated 26 paels at six sites, utilizig stories from the Miesota Great River Road Iterpretive Pla. Historic Roadside Property Restoratios Cotracts were fialized ad most work completed durig FY 2013 o the fial four of twelve restoratio projects alog the Great River Road. The four sites are - Sibley Pioeer Church Memorial; La Crescet Overlook, La Crescet State Etrace Marker, ad Reo Sprigs Roadside Rest Area. A state appropriatio provided fuds for restoratio of 12 sites o or eligible for the Natioal Historic Register. Road ad Bridge Projects The ew Lowry Aveue Bridge i Mieapolis has received umerous state ad atioal awards for egieerig, evirometal excellece, ad overall project quality. The ew four-lae, 1,600 foot spa bridge accommodates vehicle, pedestria, bicycle, rail ad river traffic ad reliks busy residetial ad busiess areas. The ew Hastigs Highway 61 Bridge is earig completio. ork also cotiues o the I-90 bridge at Dresbach, Highway 43 bridge at ioa, ad Highway 63 bridge at Red ig. Resource Protectio - Silica Sad Miig Silica sad miig cotiues to be a importat topic i the Mississippi Bluffs Regio of southeaster Miesota. Cities ad couties have bee cosiderig moratoria, regulatios ad permits. The Miesota Legislature passed a bill durig the 2013 sessio directig the MN Evirometal Quality Board to develop model stadards ad criteria for miig, trasportig ad processig silica sad, i cosultatio with local uits of govermet; defiig a techical assistace team to assist local uits of govermet; ad requirig completio of a evirometal assessmet worksheet for ay ew projects meetig or exceedig defied thresholds. MDOT provided techical testimoy ad maps attached related to the Great River Road durig legislative committee hearigs. Commissioer Sheroe Mulry preseted Great River Road iformatio at a local Izaak alto League Meetig i the regio. Mississippi River Bicycle Trail MRT The MN-MRPC ad MDOT cotiue to parter o efforts to fully implemet ad promote the MRT. The MN-MRPC s Corridor Maagemet Plaig ad Implemetatio grat ad a matchig Natioal Park Service grat will provide MRT sigage, iformatio kiosks, maps ad electroic iformatio for travelers. Several orgaizatios worked together durig the year to clarify sigage requiremets ad plas after the MRT was desigated as Uited States Bicycle Route 45 i Miesota. A series of meetigs ad coferece calls took place ivolvig MDOT, MN-MRPC, NPS, FHA, AASHTO, MRT Ic., ad Adveture Cyclig. Issues icluded maitaiig the MRT s te state bradig ad sigage while also meetig requiremets of U.S. Bicycle Route desigatio. Fial sig plas were completed, muicipal agreemets were secured with local uits of govermet, ad MRT sigs were ordered for Phase I of the project Hastigs to Iowa Border regio to be istalled summer The MN-MRPC, i support of bicyclig i Miesota, placed ads i the Miesota Bicyclig Guide ad 2013 Miesota Bikig Map. Great River Road 75 th Aiversary I celebratio ad recogitio of the Great River Road s 75 th aiversary, the MN-MRPC requested ad received a Goveror s Proclamatio attached. The proclamatio desigated May as Great River Road moth i Miesota, i cojuctio with Natioal Tourism eek ad the Goveror s Fishig Opeer which was hosted i Park Rapids ad icluded a visit to Itasca, source of the Mississippi. The Miesota Great River Road Map/Travel Plaer was updated ad reprited featurig the 75 th aiversary o the cover attached. Lapel pis were purchased for distributio at meetigs ad evets. Explore Miesota Tourism featured the Great River Road 75 th Aiversary o their Group & Packaged Travel Plaer cover attached, America Bus Associatio ABA Marketplace booklet cover, ad Miesota Explorer sprig/summer ewspaper isert. The MN-MRPC also served as a sposor for the Miesota ABA booth/booklet ad highlighted the GRR 75 th aiversary ad MN GRR iterpretive ceters. MN-MRPC ad Explore Miesota Tourism represetatives staffed the Great River Road booth at the Great Race Kickoff/Back to the 50s eeked at the Miesota State Fairgrouds. Evets alog the Miesota Great River Road were submitted to the Natioal MRPC for iclusio o the aiversary evets website. Page 2 of 5

3 Natioal MRPC The MN-MRPC was represeted at both the 2012 Aual ad 2103 Semi-Aual MRPC meetigs. Carol Zoff preseted iformatio o MAP-21 at both meetigs. Karl Samp was elected as MRPC Treasurer, ad received the MRPC Distiguished Service Award. Mississippi River Cities ad Tows Iitiative Aual Meetig The Mississippi River Cities ad Tows Iitiative 2013 Aual Meetig was held i St. Cloud, Jue St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis hosted the meetig. MN-MRPC member Karl Samp represeted the MRPC. Hospitality Traiig Partership The MN-MRPC ad DNR are i plaig stages to update Miesota Great River Road regioal map tablets, develop a hospitality traiig PowerPoit, ad roll out hospitality traiig at state parks alog or ear the Mississippi River, for local tourism/hospitality staff. Implemetatio is curretly scheduled for sprig New Great River Road Iterpretive Ceter The ioa Couty History Ceter was desigated as Miesota s ewest member of the Great River Road Network of Iterpretive Ceters. The ceter is located i historic dowtow ioa, ear the Mississippi. A variety of exhibits tell the uique stories of the area, icludig a award wiig childre s exhibit featurig a river steamboat pilot house. For details, visit Fudig/Great River Road Ivestmets The Miesota Great River Road ad its ameities are supported by several fudig sources, icludig those maaged by the MN-MRPC as listed below state operatig budget, FHA ad state grats ad those maaged by related orgaizatios other sceic byways, parter orgaizatios such as the Mississippi Natioal River ad Recreatio Area, State of Miesota, etc.. State Operatig Budget The MN-MRPC operated with state fudig at levels allowig the Commissio to proceed with priorities. State operatig fudig for FY 13 was $85,500 which icluded a base amout of $63,000 alog with carry-over from the previous fiscal year which allowed for special projects icludig the MN-GRR 75 th aiversary map reprit. Federal Highway Admiistratio Grats Miesota Great River Road Corridor Maagemet Plaig & Implemetatio $560,000 - Grat work bega durig MRT sigs were purchased for Phase I of the statewide sigage project Hastigs to Iowa Border. Miesota Great River Road Natioal Sceic Byway Marketig $43,000 Most grat tasks have bee completed. A hospitality traiig project is beig developed i partership with the Miesota Departmet of Natural Resources. This is the last project to be implemeted uder the grat, with completio of the grat plaed by Jue Miesota Great River Road Iterpretive Paels, Phase 1 $50,000 - This project will place a series of iterpretive sigs i various Miesota Great River Road destiatio areas. Pael desigs have bee fialized for remaiig sites ad paels were fabricated durig FY 13 for three locatios. Natioal Park Service Grat Great River Road Corridor Maagemet Plaig ad Implemetatio $140,000 Fuds are local match for the Natioal Sceic Byways Grat, ad dedicated to specific tasks i the project that directly beefit the Mississippi Natioal River ad Recreatio Area Natioal Sceic Byway Grats Fuded Two projects alog the Miesota Great River Road were awarded 2012 Natioal Sceic Byway Grats Aitki Couty, for a project to pave some of the last remaiig gravel sectios of the Great River Road; ad Dakota Couty, to costruct parkig, trail coectios, sigage ad restrooms ear the Rock Islad Swig Bridge. Miesota Trasportatio Alteratives Program MDOT held regioal meetigs durig the year to share iformatio o MAP-21 ad its impact o programs ad fudig sources, ad to gather feedback o structure of the Trasportatio Alteratives Program movig forward. Optios iclude fuds beig regioally admiistered through Area Trasportatio Parterships, usig a cetralized approach for Page 3 of 5

4 the state, or some combiatio of both. The MN-MRPC passed a of support for allocatio of Trasportatio Alteratives fuds at the state level specifically for Natioal Sceic Byways i the state due to statewide ad atioal sigificace. Local & Regioal Activities ad Ameity Developmet Mieapolis Riverfrot Partership The partership held a Riverfrot Vitality Summit i July 2012, with top priorities idetified as riverfrot parks ad trails; private ivestmet alog the river; icreasig riverside veues restaurats, etc.. The Riverfrot Partership is also cotiuig its vitality idicators project, to measure impacts of ivestmet alog the Mississippi. Mieapolis Park ad Recreatio Board A celebratio was held to recogize recet reovatios at Boom Islad ad B.F. Nelso Parks. 19 th Aual St. Paul Great River Gatherig This aual gatherig of the commuity focusig o the Mississippi ad City of St. Paul was held May 9 at St. Paul RiverCetre. Five members represeted the MN-MRPC at the evet ad exhibit area. MN DNR Take Aim at Summer Evet held at DNR cetral regio headquarters alog the Mississippi River i St. Paul, focused o outdoor activities available withi a urba area. Mississippi Natioal River ad Recreatio Area: Alterative Trasportatio Pla The goal of this pla is to icrease visitatio to atioal park without icreasig cogestio, via a multi-modal trasportatio system. A olie trasportatio plaig tool is earig completio for travelers, which will provide iformatio o Nice Ride bike statios, mass trasit stops, river accesses, ad more. O May 30, Nice Ride Miesota, the Natioal Park Service, MDOT, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Miesota, Heepi Couty, ad Mieapolis Park ad Recreatio Board held a kick-off ride ad rally to lauch 24 ew bike share statios alog the Mississippi River ad withi the Mississippi Natioal River ad Recreatio Area. Fudig for the 24 ew statios alog the river was made possible through a NPS grat to Nice Ride Miesota through the Paul S. Sarbaes Trasit i Parks Program admiistered by the FHA. Natioal ater Trail Desigatio The 72 miles of river withi the Mississippi Natioal River ad Recreatio Area was desigated as the 2d Natioal ater Trail i the Uited States. The Natioal Park Service is plaig to submit a applicatio to exted the desigatio to the full legth of the Mississippi i Miesota. A presetatio was provided at the May 23 MN-MRPC quarterly meetig ad the MN-MRPC has provided a letter of support. Braierd-Baxter Mississippi River Revitalizatio Project This group cotiues to work with the Natioal Park Service s Parks ad Trails Program as they move forward with plas for the Braierd-Baxter area, ad plas to alig efforts with the ew Corridor Maagemet Pla developed for the MN Great River Road. The City of Braierd recetly defied priorities ad developmet of a River alk is icluded. St. Cloud Area Mississippi Parters was established i 2012 to champio implemetatio of the recetly completed urba river pla by prioritizig, educatig, marketig/promotig, advocatig, ad fudraisig for future river iitiatives. A ew project website was lauched i Take a Day OFF Outdoor Family Fu o the Mississippi - This aual evet at Stears Couty Mississippi River Park is orgaized by Stears Couty Soil ad ater Coservatio District, Miesota DNR Beto Couty. St. Cloud State Uiversity ad several other local parters. 1,300 people participated i the August 11, 2012 evet. Free activities icluded fishig, river rides, archery, river educatio, ature hikes, kayakig, caoeig, kids games, ative platigs, ature art, river shore ladscapig, kow your duck, ad family picics. Cuyua s Moutai Bike Trail Trail usage grew from 15,000 i the first year to 25,000 i the secod year. New Trail Developmet Discussios are uderway to create a bicycle trail alog the Mississippi i the ewly defied Mississippi Northwoods Heritage Complex just outside Braierd. The parcel icludes 11 miles of Mississippi River frotage ad the potetial ew trail would coect to existig trails i the Cuyua Coutry State Recreatio Area ad City of Braierd. Milford Mie Memorial Park Crow ig Couty is plaig ad seekig fudig to create a iterpretive/memorial park icludig boardwalk access at the site of the Milford Mie ear Crosby. The site is about oe mile from the Great River Road ad marks the locatio of oe of the worst miig accidets i state history. The MN-MRPC has passed a motio of support for this project. Upper Mississippi Gatherigs Mississippi Gatherig 5 was held October 6, 2012, coveed by the Iitiative Foudatio, Mississippi Headwaters Board ad Trust for Public Lad. The series of gatherigs focuses o brigig together parters ad iitiatives alog the first 400 miles of the river. MN-MRPC techical advisors Paul Labovitz ad Carol Zoff were preseters o impactful river projects ad the Corridor Maagemet Plaig project, ad MN-MRPC member Joh Schaubach is a member of the plaig team for the gatherigs. Page 4 of 5

5 St. Cloud Riverbluffs Park MN-MRPC member Karl Samp atteded the July 2012 ribbo cuttig/dedicatio of this ew park alog the Mississippi featurig a boat ladig ad trails. Historic Bar Preservatio A group is workig to promote ad preserve the McDougall Bar site south of Little Falls, built i 1877 ad listed o the Natioal Historic Register. Karl Samp has served as MN-MPRC liaiso. Fort Sellig Upper Post Developmet The Miesota DNR is parterig with Heepi Couty o a project to reuse/develop barracks ad other buildigs i the upper post of Fort Sellig. Membership The MN-MRPC is orgaized by state statute to iclude: 2 Members of the House of Represetatives 2 Members of the Seate 5 Members of State Agecies - 1 appoited by each: DNR, M/DOT, Historical Society, Agriculture & Tourism 5 Regioal Members 1 from each of the Great River Road regios established by statute 1 Member-At-Large appoited by the other 14 New members welcomed over the past year: Scott Bradley, Miesota Departmet of Trasportatio Appoitee ad Represetative Mike Beso. Thak you to outgoig Commissioers Frak Pafko, Represetative Brade Peterse ad Jim Lucachick. This report is respectfully submitted o July 25, Rep. Sheldo Johso, MN-MRPC Chair Page 5 of 5

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8 Seate Eergy & Eviromet Committee Potetial Silica Sad Idustry Impact Testimoy Local byway parters ad the Miesota Mississippi River Parkway Commissio have requested MDOT brig to your attetio the Great River Road Natioal Sceic Byway, which rus through the regio of icreasig silica sad idustry activity, ad to suggest frameworks to help permittig authorities assess potetial impacts from silica sad idustry developmet marks the 75th year of Great River Road, a te-state road etwork that celebrates the Mississippi River through a wide variety of opportuities for river exploratio by residets ad tourists alike. I 1938 Secretary of Iterior Harold Ickes evisioed the Great River Road as a meas to celebrate America s largest river, restorig it from a icreasigly idustrial paradigm to that of a parkway. Sice that time local, state ad Federal ivestmet have developed facilities alog the river valley that attract residets ad tourists. May of these are show o the map titled Potetial Resources ad Impact Areas for the Silica Sad Idustry. The map does ot reflect aalysis, although GIS mappig of these ad other agecy data could serve as a tool for impact aalysis related to the byway i the permittig process to idetify potetial impacts of silica sad developmet ad optios to avoid, miimize or mitigate them. A framework for assessig impacts of the silica sad idustry could iclude the Federal Highway Admiistratio's atioal sceic byway itrisic qualities: archaeological, atural, cultural, recreatioal, sceic, ad historic. The Mississippi River Trail, MDOT s first state bikeway, was established by Mi. Stat last sessio ad show o the map as a red dash. This route combies Mississippi exploratio, active livig ad a ew tourism product that adds value to existig roads ad trails. This year MDOT will istall route sigage. The map idetifies trasportatio ivestmets that have preserved sceic views, with sigificat sceic easemets show i yellow. Small woder that last year a Huffigto Post poll amed iscosi s GRR America s prettiest drive. Assessig the cumulative impact of ladscape chage resultig from silica sad, CAP2020 ad wid farms o the Great River Road s sceic quality is a cocer of the Commissio. All three are occurrig alog this sceic route i the absece of coordiated permittig. For More Iformatio Cotact: Carol Zoff Evirometal Stewardship carol.zoff@state.m.us

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10 Resources Potetial Dassel Cokato e e k e r M Rockford Motrose right Fridley 55 Brookly Ceter Loretto Hilltop Glewood Boyceville City Silver Hutchiso Roberts Glecoe Browto New Aubur Chaska Belle Plaie Farmigto New Market 50 Nicollet Courtlad Nicollet P Active Medford Orooco Claremot Dodge Steele Olmsted Rochester P Stockto Dodge Ceter 218 Elledale Eyota Easto ells Scietific ad Natural Area Frost Maagemetalters Areas 253 Coger Bricely Machester Dakota Co. Farmlad Kiester Protectio Program Map revised by MDOT: February 15, 2013 Sargeat Twi Area s Sait Charles Racie Freebor Mapleview 90 Austi P Hayward Grad Meadow Dexter Sprig Valley Mower 56 ykoff Laesboro 80 Lewisto Dakota Rushford Village Peterso Rushford Gleville 65 Myrtle 105 Cashto Housto 43 Caledoia 139 For disclaimer, please go to: Hokah Housto Browsville 44 La Crosse 16 Harmoy Taopi F i l l m o r e Ostrader Adams La Crescet hala 76 Bagor Frech Islad Sparta est Salem Oalaska Presto Rose Creek Brice Holme Prairie Elkto 250 Foutai Browsdale Trempealeau ioa Dakota Co. Park Utica Holladale Albert Lea P Chatfield Stewartville altham Clarks Grove Trasload Facility F a r i b ast.u Croix l t Natl Sceic RiverwayAlde 254 ildlife Bloomig Prairie Geeva Upper Mississippi Natl ildlife Refuge Freebor 109 Prospect Hayfield State Recreatio Area New Richlad Altura Byro Galesville ioa P Miesota City Goodview Elba aldorf State Forest Rolligstoe Miesota Quartz-rich formatios at/ear surface Delava 74 Dover Karst Feature Ivetory Poits Mieiska 61 Elgi Matorville Plaiview 247 Arcadia Buffalo City Millville Hammod 57 P a sec a Sceic Easemet a ba sh a Rail Lie Active Prospect Zumbro Falls Owatoa aseca Hartlad Blue Earth Jaesville Sceic Byway ProspectAmboy est Cocord Proposed Mazeppa Pie Islad Mapleto Active Keyo Blair Kellogg Graada Pemberto iebago Black River Falls hitehall 60 Zumbrota Morristow Amish_Byways Proposed aamigo Elysia 83 MProcessig a r t i Plat Faribault aterville Madiso Good Thuder Proposed 58 Idepedece abasha State or Regioal Trail Nerstrad Blue Historic Site Earth Vero Ceter Bellechester P298 Sait Clair 66 Rest Area Class IV Mie Rice Kilkey City G o o d h u e Goodhue 246 Eagle Strum 21 Kasota Skylie Crystal 19 Deiso Osseo Modovi Dudas Le Ceter Clevelad North Makato 68 Makato 99 Cao Falls Northfield 112 Sait Peter Augusta Motgomery Fall Creek Ellsworth P Le Sueur Altooa Red ig Radolph Losdale 93 Le Sueur 111 Miesville 20 3 Seymour Durad Heidelberg Eau Claire 316 New Trier Meomoie Sprig Valley Hampto Dakota Elko New Prague Hederso 35 Gaylord Vermillio 52 Thorp Cadott issota ville Staley Chippewa Falls oodville Baldwi Colfax Hastigs Sibley Hammod ashigto Shakopee Scott Arligto Jorda 5 ithrop Carver Gree Isle oodlad Hopkis lad Mietrista Shorewood Sait Moud Deephave Sait Croix Beach Lilydale Lester Paul South oodbury Toka Bay Greewood Edia Sait Sait Prairie Medota Sait River Afto Marys Paul Excelsior Richfield Boifacius Victoria 95 New Mayer Falls Medota Poit Newport 101 Sufish Germay Chahasse 494 Heights acoia Bloomigto Ede Eaga 149 Sait Prairie 212 Norwood Iver Paul Cottage Youg Youg Grove Park 35 35E Grove Plato America America Heights 41 Norwood Cologe Bursville Rosemout Prior Carver 10 Prescott Hamburg Savage Apple Valley Coates 7 McLeod Biscay Taiter isted City of ioa: expires 3/20/2013 City of Redwig: expired10/28/2012 Fillmore Couty: lifted 11/2012 Housto Couty: expired 2/20132 Goodhue Couty: expires 9/2013 abasha Couty: expires 8/2013 Miesota Departmet of Trasportatio Moratoria: Grat R a Gem m s e y Mahtomedi Stillwater Crystal Media Vadais illerie Pie Delao 12 Oak Park Heights A o k a Plymouth Heights Sprigs New Hope Maple Plai Sait Bayport Idepedece Log H e e p i Athoy Lauderdale North Sait Paul Elmo North Hudso Maplewood ayzata atertow Oakdale lad Sait Mieapolis 394 Oroo Shores Louis Park Hudso P Mietoka Beach Sait Paul Ladfall 94 P est averly Howard ad Impact Areas for the Silica Sad Idustry Cato Mabel estby 26 Sprig Grove Viroqua Miles

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12 LEGEND Great River Road Destiatio Areas: Mississippi Headwaters Mississippi Northwoods Mississippi Crossigs Sceic Mississippi Metro Mississippi Mississippi Bluffs For more Great River Road travel iformatio, cotact: 94 Iterstate highway State park 10 U.S. highway Natioal forest 23 State highway Natioal Great River Road Iterpretive Ceter 33 Couty state aid highway Explore Miesota Tourism photos, except where oted The Great River Road Natioal Sceic Byway of the Mississippi River Nature lovers will fid ample opportuity to view wildlife alog the byway ad uique geological features throughout the 11 Great River Road s ad umerous sceic areas that border its route. e ivite you to visit a iterpretive ceter or historic site to lear about the history ad ecology of the state ad the role of the mighty river. Stop to take a hike o a woodlad trail, paddle dow river i a steamboat or caoe, or catch breathtakig views from the Mississippi bluffs, all the while partakig i oe of America s favorite pastimes: The Pleasure Drive. EPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM Phoe: or NATIONAL SCENIC BYAYS Destiatio Area Tourism Cotacts Mississippi Headwaters: ITASCA STATE PARK TO BEMIDJI Visit Bemidji Mississippi Northwoods: BEMIDJI TO GRAND RAPIDS Visit Bemidji Cass Chamber of Commerce Visit Grad Rapids Grad Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Iformatio Depot Mississippi Crossigs: Photo - MN - MRPC Library The Great River Road i Miesota travels 575 miles beside the legedary Mississippi River. It is a etwork of roadways that offers a bouty of river experiece, from the pristie Mississippi headwaters i Itasca through lush forest ad the cetral lakes regio, rich farmlad ad the metro bustle of the Twi Cities, to the awe-ispirig bluffs of Miesota s southeaster border. MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI RIVER PARKAY COMMISSION rd Aveue South Suite 101 aite Park, MN Phoe: Miesota Great River Road: sissippiriver.com 10-State Great River Road: For its cultural, historic, recreatioal ad sceic qualities, the Great River Road i Miesota has bee desigated a Natioal Sceic Byway by the Federal Highway Admiistratio a river ad its road to be treasured, explored, experieced, ejoyed GRAND RAPIDS TO LITTLE FALLS Visit Grad Rapids Grad Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Iformatio Depot Aitki Chamber of Commerce Cuyua s Chamber Bay, Crosby, Cuyua, Deerwood, Emily, Iroto, Riverto & Trommald Braierd s Area Chamber of Commerce Little Falls Covetio & Visitors Bureau Sceic Mississippi: As you avigate the Great River Road, look for the gree pilot s wheel logo with the steamboat i the ceter. You ll see Natioal Route ad State Alterate Route sigs alog the byway. The atioal route takes you o the officially desigated Federal Highway Admiistratio jourey. The state route is a alterate route alog the river that will take you to places of iterest a bit off the beate path. ay fidig o this map is for the Natioal Route oly. Please use the Official State Highway Map of Miesota or visit for more detailed directios. Catch the Sesatio of each Destiatio LITTLE FALLS TO ELK RIVER Little Falls Covetio & Visitors Bureau St. Cloud Area Covetio & Visitors Bureau Moticello Chamber of Commerce distict regios or destiatio areas with uique travel experieces have bee idetified alog the Miesota Six Great River Road, achored o either ed by larger cities that offer a variety of lodgig, diig, etertaimet ad trasportatio optios. The destiatio area cocept for the byway is desiged to help travelers avigate shorter, more focused trips. For the adveturous traveler, with about a week to travel, the woders of the etire byway await Use the destiatio area descriptios that follow to create the Mississippi River experiece that s just right for you. Ejoy the ride Elk River Chamber of Commerce Metro Mississippi: ELK RIVER TO HASTINGS Elk River Chamber of Commerce Mieapolis Northwest Meet Mieapolis MPLS Visit Sait Paul Natioal Park Service Mississippi Natioal River & Recreatio Area Visitor Ceter Hastigs Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau Mississippi Bluffs: HASTINGS TO IOA BORDER Hastigs Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau Mississippi Valley Parters Red ig to ioa Red ig Visitors & Covetio Bureau City Chamber of Commerce abasha-kellogg Chamber & CVB Visit ioa La Crescet Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Iformatio Ceter This map was produced by the Miesota Mississippi River Parkway Commissio Nor thwo o d s Hea d w a t er s Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi Headwaters Itasca to Bemidji Mississippi Northwoods Bemidji to Grad Rapids Approx. 30 miles Approx. 95 miles Come to leap the 15 stoes that cross the humble source of the awesome Mississippi River, oe of the world s greatest ad logest waterways. Stay to experiece the forested woders of Itasca Miesota s first, established i 1891 to coserve its giat pies from loggig. Head orth to Bemidji, first city o the Mississippi, where you wo t wat to miss a photo opportuity with legedary lumberjack Paul Buya ad his faithful fried, Babe the Blue Ox. Home of Bemidji State Uiversity ad the famous Cocordia Laguage Villages, Bemidji also offers fie shoppig, diig ad theater. Bemidji offers lovely views ad recreatio for all seasos. Bemidji Becida Itasca State Forests: 71 Mississippi Headwaters State Forest Paul Buya State Forest Bemidji 10 2 Itasca Itasca Bemidji, Bemidji Bemidji Great River Road s: To Park Rapids 200 Bemidji Chippewa Natioal Forest Bemidji Peigto 1 97 Three of Miesota s largest 39 iibigoshish 33 lakes are located alog this Bemidji 8 Cass stretch of the Great River Road, Cass, Leech ad iibigoshish Bea Cass Deer River The Mississippi actually flows Ball Club through the heart of Cass 11 Grad 3 Rapids ad iibigoshish ad ,000 acres of forest withi 64 Schoolcraft the surroudig Chippewa 3 Natioal Forest. The Cass Leech 6 Chai of s was part of the Red -Leech Trail; a series of itercoected waterways used as a water highway by the Native Americas, trappers ad traders. Come to ejoy the sereity of the forest wilderess, the awesome red pies, Native America lore ad the call of the loo. Grad Rapids offers visitors lots of ameities, shoppig ad etertaimet. O ce a famous loggig commuity, Grad Rapids also offers visitors the chace to relive history o the river at the Forest History Ceter a atioal Great River Road Iterpretive Ceter. 12 Great River Road : Historic Sites & Iterpretive Ceters: Beltrami Couty History Ceter/James J. Hill Depot Jacob V. Brower Visitor Ceter, Itasca u Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Ceter, Itasca Fireplace of States, Bemidji Headwaters of the Mississippi River, Itasca u Natioal Great River Road Iterpretive Ceter Destiatio Area Highlights: Atique Shoppig Bemidji oole Mills Factory Campig Dowtow Art alk, Bemidji Historic Ladmark Statue of Paul Buya ad Babe the Blue Ox, Bemidji Coutry Sceic Byway, Park Rapids Norther Cotietal Divide, Julia 15 miles orth of Bemidji Resort Vacatioig & Fishig 400 fishig lakes withi 25 mile radius of Bemidji Towerig Pies at Preacher s Grove i Itasca Vetera s Memorial, Bemidji ilderess Drive Sceic Drivig, Bikig or Hikig Path ithi Itasca ildlife atchig For directios go to Schoolcraft, est of Grad Rapids Destiatio Area Highlights: Art Galleries, Grad Rapids & surrouds Bikig Trails Natioal Forest: Eagle atchig Chippewa Natioal Forest Edge of the ilderess Natioal Sceic Historic Sites & Iterpretive Ceters: Byway, Grad Rapids Cass Museum, Cass Judy Garlad Birthplace, Grad Rapids u Forest History Ceter, Grad Rapids Mississippi Melodie Showboat, Grad Rapids Lyle s Loggig Camp, Cass Pow ows, Leech Idia Reservatio hite Oak Redezvous, Deer River Resort Vacatioig, Hutig ad Fishig Star Islad, i Cass u Natioal Great River Road UPM, Bladi Paper Mill, Grad Rapids Iterpretive Ceter For directios go to

13 Scei c Crossi g s Mississippi Mississippi Crossigs Grad Rapids to Little Falls Approx. 145 miles The Mississippi Crossigs area of the Great River Road is amed for its history as a crossways of trasportatio by river, rail ad road; first for the voyageurs ad fur traders, the the loggers, ad today, for the thousads of vacatioers that flock to this regio each summer. The river was the mai highway of the Native peoples of Miesota ad later served as a major trasportatio route for the boomig fur trade ad loggig ecoomies durig the 18th ad 19th ceturies. Today, may of the 25 steamboat ladigs oce located betwee Aitki ad Grad Rapids are water access ad campig sites. Commerce i river trasportatio flourished i the early 1870s whe access to the Mississippi was established by rail from Duluth. Both Aitki ad Braierd served as Norther Pacific Railroad sites. Betwee Aitki ad Braierd, just south of the Mississippi, lies the Cuyua Iro Rage, which produced over 100-millio tos of high-magaese ore durig I ad II. From humble begiigs, area farmers, former loggers ad railroad employees who owed good lake sites throughout the area i the early 1900s, created what was to become the boomig lake resort commuities of today. Providig good home-cooked meals ad a piece of lad to pitch a tet, these early resorters treated guests to a true wilderess experiece. Today, visitors still ejoy the local hospitality, fishig, swimmig, boatig ad ow golfig, that are pletiful throughout this Great River Road destiatio area Leech Savaa Portage 6 Palisade 371 Cuyua Coutry State Rec. Area Cuyua Aitki Crosby 25 Iroto 6 Braierd Crow ig Mille Lacs Fort Ripley Camp Ripley Jct. Charles A. Lidbergh 52 Little Falls Sceic Mississippi Little Falls to Elk River Approx. 90 miles The Sceic Mississippi Destiatio Area offers visitors a uspoiled river experiece. Parks ad gardes, complete with footbridges ad foutais, dot the riverbaks ad surroudig area i the regio. Both Little Falls ad St. Cloud boast historic mai street districts, offerig architectural beauty ad a variety of shoppig ad diig experieces for travelers. Little Falls gaied iteratioal fame as home to Charles Lidbergh, pilot of the first solo flight across the Atlatic Ocea. As its ame implies, Little Falls was oce the locatio of a atural waterfall o the river. Today, visitors fid both a seree ad excitig experiece as they watch the water pause at the gates of a dam first built at the falls site i the mid-1800s the force its way through the ma-made chutes, bubblig ad sprayig as it tumbles to the bed of slate below. Home to may busiesses ad St. Cloud State Uiversity, St. Cloud offers travelers a wide rage of ameities ad etertaimet icludig the riverside Clemes ad Musiger Gardes. Travelig oward to Elk River, the Mississippi wids through lush farm ad ope prairie lad as it joureys through Moticello ad ito Elk River o the orthwester frige of the Twi Cities metropolita area. Charles A. Lidbergh Little Falls Rice Sauk Rapids Sartell St. Cloud Destiatio Area Highlights: Charles A. Lidbergh, Little Falls Crow ig, Braierd Savaa Portage, orth of Palisade Atique Shoppig Caoeig & Campig Commuity Theater Cuyua Coutry State Recreatio Area Cuyua s State Trail Hikig & Bikig Golfig Paul Buya Natioal Sceic Byway Paul Buya State Trail Hikig & Bikig Resort Vacatioig & Fishig s ildlife atchig & Birdig Maria Moticello 42 Destiatio Area Highlights: Atique & Craft Shoppig Clemes & Musiger Gardes, St. Cloud Hikig, Bikig, Birdig & Campig Miesota Fishig Museum, Little Falls Mississippi River Dam, Little Falls River Fishig ad Caoeig Sherbure Natioal ildlife Refuge, Zimmerma For directios go to B luffs Mississippi Mississippi Bluffs Hastigs to the Iowa Border Approx. 140 miles From the seree orth woods, the Mississippi meaders its way ito the heart of the buzzig metro area of the Twi Cities of Mieapolis ad St. Paul. Here, amidst fie diig, a outstadig theater scee, museums of all varieties, ad world-class shoppig, 72 miles of Mississippi riverfrot have bee desigated a Natioal River ad Recreatio Area by the Natioal Park Service, offerig 54,000 acres of parks, ope space ad historic sites alog the river. Visit this Great River Road destiatio area for a big-city experiece, but also to be ispired by ature o the frige of commerce. Lear how the Mississippi River played a role i the creatio of this tale of two cities. The Mississippi Bluffs destiatio area is dotted with charmig river tows, replete with historic mai streets ad woderful river vistas. Pla a delightful day trip or a relaxig log weeked. Come to shop for atiques, wooles, pottery ad more. Come to picic ad ejoy a cocert alog the Mississippi. Come to experiece the river by boat. Cozy up i a quait bed & breakfast. Get out ad ejoy the may recreatioal opportuities this regio offers fishig, boatig, bikig or hikig. Be amazed at the wildlife viewig, especially for birders. Take your pick of cities, or better yet visit them all. Great River Road Natioal Park: Froteac, Froteac Great River Bluffs, south of ioa Joh A. Latsch, orth of ioa Destiatio Area Highlights: 39 Charles A. Lidbergh Home Site, Little Falls Charles A. eyerhaeuser Memorial Museum, Little Falls Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River The Stears History Museum, St. Cloud Approx. 75 miles Alexader Ramsey House, St. Paul Ard Godfrey House, Mieapolis Carl Kroeig Iterpretive Ceter, Mieapolis u Historic Fort Sellig, St. Paul James J. Hill House, St. Paul u Mill City Museum, Mieapolis Riverfrot u Miesota History Ceter, St. Paul u Natioal Park Service Mississippi Natioal River & Recreatio Area Visitor Ceter, St. Paul Riverfrot Oliver H. Kelley Farm, Elk River u Sciece Museum of Miesota Mississippi River Gallery, St. Paul Riverfrot Sibley House, St. Paul St. Athoy Falls Heritage Trail / Stoe Arch Bridge, Mieapolis Riverfrot u Natioal Great River Road Iterpretive Ceters Elk River Charles A. Lidbergh, Little Falls Maria, Moticello Metro Mississippi Elk River to Hastigs Historic Sites & Iterpretive Ceters: Mississippi Fort Sellig, St. Paul Clearwater 75 Met ro Great River Road : Sherbure Natioal ildlife Refuge Great River Road s: Croft Mie Historical Park, Crosby Crow ig Couty Historical Society Museum, Braierd Miesota Military Museum, Camp Ripley For directios go to Norther Pacific Depot, Aitki Mississippi Natioal River & Recreatio Area 25 Historic Sites & Iterpretive Ceters: Great River Road s: Historic Sites & Iterpretive Ceters: Grad Rapids 74 Schoolcraft 65 Mississippi Great River Road s: Mall of America, Bloomigto Miehaha Falls & The Logfellow House, Mieapolis Miesota Lyx Basketball NBA, Mieapolis Miesota State Capitol, St. Paul Miesota Timberwolves Basketball NBA, Mieapolis Miesota Twis Baseball MLB, Mieapolis Miesota Vikigs Football NFL, Mieapolis Miesota ild Hockey NHL, St. Paul Mississippi Riverboat Excursios, Mieapolis & St. Paul Mouds Park, St. Paul St. Athoy Falls & U.S. Lock & Dam 1 Uiversity of Miesota, Mieapolis Riverfrot Elk River 36 Historic Sites & Iterpretive Ceters: Buell House, ioa Goodhue Couty Museum, Red ig Le Duc Historic Estate, Hastigs u Miesota Marie Art Museum, ioa u Natioal Eagle Ceter, abasha Old Froteac, Froteac Pickwick Mill, ioa Polish Cultural Istitute, ioa abasha Couty Museum, Reads Ladig atkis Heritage Museum, ioa u ioa Couty History Ceter, ioa u Natioal Great River Road Iterpretive Ceter 1 Coo Rapids E E Mississippi River Lock & Dam 3, ear Red ig Mississippi River Lock & Dam 6, 10 mi. N of ioa Mississippi River Lock & Dam 7, ear La Crescet Riverboat Excursios, City & Red ig Red ig Pottery Tour, Red ig Sori & Bar Bluffs, Red ig Sugar Loaf Bluff, ioa Upper Mississippi River ildlife & Fish Refuge, abasha to Rock Islad, IL Vermillio Falls, Hastigs U.S. Lock & Dam 1 Boom Islad, Mieapolis Riverfrot 280 St. Paul Cathedral of Sait Paul, St. Paul Mieapolis Coo Rapids Dam Regioal Park, Coo Rapids 5 Dowtow Shoppig, Diig & Etertaimet, 494 Fort Mieapolis & St. Paul Sellig State Guthrie Theater, Mieapolis Riverfrot Park U.S. Lock & Dam 2 35E Grad Rouds Natioal Sceic Byway, Mieapolis 55 Hastigs Harriet Islad, St. Paul Riverfrot 52 For directios go to Destiatio Area Highlights: U.S. Lock & Dam 2 Hastigs U.S. Lock & Dam 3 Red ig Froteac 61 Froteac Statio City Maple Sprigs Camp Lacupolis abasha Reads Ladig 63 Kellogg Mieiska U.S. Lock & Dam 4 eaver 61 U.S. Lock & Dam 5 Apple Orchards, La Crescet Joh A. Latsch Miesota City Birdig Promiet Eagle atchig Area Goodview Faith, Hope & Charity Bluffs, ioa Rochester Homer betwee abasha & ioa 14 La Moille 61 U.S. Lock & Dam 6 14 Garvi Heights Park, ioa Great River Bluffs Historic Dowtow Hastigs Dakota Dresbach U.S. Lock & Dam 7 Historic St. James Hotel, Red ig La Crescet 90 Pepi / Maria, City Lark Toy Compay, Kellogg Browsville Upper Mississippi Levee & Jaycee Parks, Hastigs River Natioal ildlife & Fish Refuge Levee Park & Milwaukee Depot, Red ig 52 Reo Mississippi River Lock & Dam 2, = River crossig 26 upstream of Hastigs to iscosi Iowa For directios go to

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