Updates

  • December 16, 2021

    The Masters of Urban and Regional Planning Students Land use planning class is holding a Community Exhibit 12/16/21 - Interrogating the Innovation District at the University Enterprise Labs.

    This semester students have been working arduously to develop 10 land use planning projects focused on reconsidering the notion of an innovation district.

    Thursday, December 16th from 6 to 8:30 pm

  • September 23, 2021

    Aquifer energy storage project wins financial backing of Mpls city council

  • August 16, 2021

    The Market at Malcolm Yards & O'Shaughnessy Distillery open



  • September 30, 2020

    Green 4th Street Enhancements Completed

  • June 30, 2020

    Metropolitan Council awards $100,000 grant for District Stormwater Phase II

  • September 01, 2019

    Towerside Innovation District Park complete

Blog

Green 4th Street Volunteer Day

September 01, 2021 by towersideadmin

This summer, representatives of Towerside and Prospect Park Properties joined Mississippi Watershed Maintenance Organization (MWMO)’s Green Team extending a little tlc to Towerside’s green space, and exercising its core objective—to bring community together—supporting renewable energy, including a sustainable and restorative infrastructure, and creating a new century nexus for people, to live, work, learn, research, explore and engage.

The Mississippi River Green Team is an employment and conservation program for Minneapolis youth. The MWMO and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) created the Green Team to have a mentored job experience, learn about environmental careers and acquire new skills. Daily activities include; working to prevent water pollution, removing invasive species, building raingardens, planting trees and native prairie plants, and assisting in citizen-science projects. After two years on the team, the youth become part of a supportive network that work to help secure jobs to expand their skills and to prepare for their future.

This season efforts included weeding the ROW habitat plantings and Towerside Park, with focus on Making Green Infrastructure Work. As the drought continued and officials implemented watering restrictions aimed to protect the city’s main water supply—the Mississippi River—the stormwater reuse system at Towerside pumped continuously. In June and July alone, it distributed about 100,000 gallons of water, which barely put a dent in the water available in the tank; the handful of small rain events that occurred during that time frame replenished nearly all of the water that was used.

This is what success looks like for the Towerside District Stormwater System. Six years after the initial conceptual plan was developed, there is a functioning, large-scale stormwater reuse system, providing the district with a reliable source of treated stormwater for non-potable uses—while keeping pollutants out of the river, creating new green spaces for the public to enjoy, and adding to local climate resiliency by taking some of the burden off of local storm-sewers.

There is so much more to the milestone that is the Green Street event. Learn the full-story: Making Green Infrastructure Work: Lessons Learned from Towerside’s District Stormwater System

Content credits to, and full-articles: Mississippi Watershed Maintenance Organization, MWMO Newsletter, MWMO Educational Programs