Red River of the North

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River Corridor

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Red River Chronicles

Do you have a story about life on the Red River? Did you catch an amazing fish? Or fight the flood? Do you have a special place you like to go to relax? Or do you have a different connection that may seem common but is special to you?

Artist Su Legatt, in partnership with the Moorhead Parks Department, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, and RiverKeepers, is collecting community stories, poems, and thoughts about our relationship to the Red River for an upcoming River Corridor interpretive trail project.

Please submit your thoughts about life on the Red! 

kayak bridge people

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River Corridor Trail Progress Map

River Corridor Plan

After significant floods in 2009, 2010, and 2011, the City of Moorhead began several flood mitigation projects and acquisition of flood-prone properties adjacent to the Red River. As a result, a large portion of private property along the river has been transferred to public ownership. The Moorhead River Corridor Study was implemented to answer questions about the use of this public land and to develop a plan to guide future management and maintenance of the river corridor, balancing community needs, flood mitigation, transportation, recreation, public/private property, and natural resource preservation and restoration. 

There were two phases to the River Corridor Study. 

  • Phase I, led by FM Metro COG, was completed in April 2013 and identified the needs and issues related to the River Corridor as well as documented existing conditions, summarized public input, outlined limitations along the River Corridor, and presented a range of needs and opportunities identified by the public, residents, and staff. 
  • The Final River Corridor Plan and Executive Summary were approved by the Mayor and City Council on May 12th, 2014.  The River Corridor Plan is Phase II of the study and establishes policies and strategy alternatives that can be used to address the issues, needs and opportunities identified along the River Corridor.  Thank you to everyone who participated in the River Corridor Planning process! 

Since approval of the River Corridor Plan in May of 2014, there have been numerous projects that have been completed or are underway along the River Corridor, including:

2023:

  • Anticipated construction of Midtown Trail, connecting Woodlawn and Gooseberry Parks

2022:

  • Breaking the Surface sculpture installation in Davy-Memorial Park
  • Gooseberry off-road trails courtesy of FM Trailbuilders
  • Adopt the Red Volunteer Program
  • Canoe and Kayak Rentals
  • Collaboration with River Keepers, including: canoe/kayak rentals, paddling excursions, Storm Drain Marking Program, Red River Water Festival, adopt programs, community education and outreach events, tree plantings, and downtown and on-the-water litter pick up

 2021:

 2020: 

2019:

2018:

2017:

  • Audubon Great Plains awarded a $147,294 grant through the MN DNR Conservation Partners Legacy Program for Red River Riparian Restoration in Moorhead.  
  • New basketball court at Woodlawn Park courtesy of a donation from the Minnesota Timberwolves "New Era. New Courts." program, presented by U.S. Bank. The new court will replace the previous court which was unusable because of severe pavement cracking and heaving.
  • MB Johnson Park Projects: new paved and natural trails, restrooms, fish cleaning station, interpretive signs and bike/pedestrian bridge over Snakey Creek (2017/2018)
  • Replacement of Memorial/Riverfront Park bike/pedestrian bridge
  • Audubon Great Plains Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative:
    • Pollinator Garden at Horn Park planted by 2nd graders from Ellen Hopkins Elementary and 
    • New native plantings planted by 7th graders from Horizon Middle School near Wall St Ave N/River
  • Gooseberry off-road trails courtesy of FM Trailbuilders
  • Adopt the Red Volunteer Program
  • Canoe and Kayak Rentals
  • Collaboration with River Keepers, including: canoe/kayak rentals, paddling excursions, Storm Drain Marking Program, Red River Water Festival, adopt programs, community education and outreach events, tree plantings, and downtown and on-the-water litter pick up

2016:

 2015:

2014:

  • Stripe bike lanes along 11 Street N from 15 Ave to 28 Ave N (Clay County)
  • Private/public property delineation signage
  • Legacy Trails Grant Applications – Blue Goose and Downtown Link Trails and MB Johnson Phase III Projects (applications denied)
  • Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails Commission – application to request Regionally Significant Park/Trail
  • Collaboration with River Keepers, including: storm drain markings, Water Festival, litter pickup, community education and outreach events, tree plantings, and Bike Patrol