Midtown Greenway

The Midtown Greenway is a 6-mile long recessed corridor owned by the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority (HCRAA). The historic railroad corridor was converted into a pedestrian and bicycle trail in the 1990’s and quickly became a popular regional amenity, serving over two million users every year. The corridor is a unique, vehicle-free connection between the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes and the Mississippi River that bisects a wide range of diverse neighborhoods. Despite its success, the corridor has also seen increased incidents of drug related crimes, sex trafficking, and homeless encampments. Neighbors no longer bring their children to the space; needles from drug use are a visible issue, and the perception of criminal activity have impacted use of this vital asset. The Midtown Greenway Community Safety Design Guidelines was conceived as a communication toolkit of strategies to create a safer trail corridor while acknowledging and serving the larger social needs of underserved populations.