Lake Street/ Midtown Greenway Corridor Framework Plan
Minneapolis, MN

CLOSE Landscape Architecture+ led a team charged with creating a master plan for the Midtown Greenway an abandoned rail corridor located south of downtown Minneapolis. This multi-modal greenway is of special significance because of its role in the current revitalization of surrounding neighborhoods and nearby Lake Street. The master planning process involved extensive community participation with 14 adjoining neighborhoods.

The Midtown Greenway realizes a century-old vision to establish an east-west "green" connection from the Chain of Lakes across the city to the Mississippi River. The urban design components of the project are spurring economic development along its route, providing access for inner-city residents to regional open space systems and creating a commuter bike route that is helping reduce dependence on the automobile. The corridor will also eventually contain public transit.

This Framework Plan received a 2001 Honor Award from the Minnesota Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.