NINE MILE CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL
The concept for the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail was established over 10
years ago as part of a larger initiative to lay the foundation for
development of multi-use regional trails in the first-ring suburbs. The
regional trail is envisioned to provide a critical connection with the
existing Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail in the cities of Hopkins and
Minnetonka, running east-west through the City of Edina, extending into the
City of Richfield, and providing a connection to the Minnesota Valley
National Wildlife Refuge in the City of Bloomington and Grand Rounds Trail
System at Lake Nokomis in the City of Minneapolis via the planned Intercity
Regional Trail. Several alternative trail route segments are under
consideration and include routes adjacent to roads and along the Nine Mile
Creek corridor.
At its Oct. 12, 2010 meeting, the Edina Park Board voted to approve a
recommendation to develop the proposed Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail. The
Park Board's recommendation suggests that the City Council give Three Rivers
Park District easements (with some restrictions and conditions) to
City-owned park land to develop a multi-modal trail primarily along Nine
Mile Creek.
On Dec. 7, 2010, the City Council unanimously approved the Park Board’s
recommendation to give Three Rivers Park District easements to City-owned
park land to develop a creek-based multi-modal trail primarily along Nine
Mile Creek. The City Council approved the initiative with following
conditions:
1. Keep the trail on the south side of Walnut Ridge Park.
2. Three
Rivers Park District must make all reasonable efforts in the
engineering/design phase to minimize boardwalk noise and height.
3.
Three Rivers Park District must offer to provide homeowners with principal
residences adjacent to the proposed regional trail edge the option to have
buffers where reasonable and at Three River’s expense. Buffer options are
fencing or vegetative screening (trees, shrubs).
4. Three Rivers Park
District must take reasonable steps to minimize the amount of boardwalks in
the complex balancing act that also attempts to minimize the impact on the
environment (wetlands, water quality and vegetation).
5. Place a time
limit deadline on the easements offered to Three Rivers Park District to
complete the project within a reasonable time frame. A reasonable time limit
should be negotiated with Three Rivers Park District and that language
should be included in the easement agreement.
6. The final design
shall minimize property impacts and be subject to Council approval.
7. A reasonable sound wall should be constructed for Segment 19 that is
satisfactory to the City.
The trail map and additional information
can also be found
online.
The engineering phase and construction of the Nine Mile Creek Regional
Trail will not begin until federal grant funding is secured which is not
expected until the year 2014 at the earliest.
For more information, contact Park & Recreation Director John Keprios,
952-826-0430, or Kelly Grissman at Three Rivers Park District, 763-694-7635.
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