Minneapolis Natural Areas Plan - Phase I

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is responsible for managing more than 6,700 acres of park, trails, and open space. Most of that area consists of buildings, paved roads and parking lots, and maintained parkland, yet, more than 2,800 acres remain as natural areas. These natural areas include: upland and lowland forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands; a variety of wetlands and stormwater management areas; and lakes. MPRB is committed to protecting and maintaining essential habitat for diverse plant and animal communities, as well as providing quality natural areas for park users. As part of ongoing system-wide maintenance and planning efforts, the MPRB initiated this Phase 1 Natural Areas Plan to address how park spaces are classified and ranked for purposes of natural resource management.

This report and the associated geodatabase provide the MPRB with detailed baseline information from which to initiate Phase 2 of the Natural Areas Plan. Phase 2 will include more detailed inventory and assessment of natural areas, natural resource management planning, task prioritization, and baseline ecological monitoring.

In a nutshell, this resource offers:

• A baseline of the MPRB's natural areas. 
• A classification and ranking system for natural resource management.
• Inventory and assessment findings.

How to use this resource:

• As a protocol for assessment and monitoring, specifically for evaluating ecological condition.
• As an example of prioritization based on data. 

Date published:  2017

Point of contact: James Shaffer, Natural Resources Supervisor, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, JShaffer@minneapolisparks.org.  

Citation: Applied Ecological Services and SRF Consulting Group. 2017. Natural Areas Plan - Phase 1. Report for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minneapolis, MN.

Resource is available online here.