River Corridor
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!
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:
- City Council approval on October 12, 2021 of a sheep grazing pilot program in collaboration with Audubon Great Plains, Harvest Hope Farm, Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD). Oakport Prairie (an Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative site owned by BRRWD) currently being pursued as a future grazing site.
- Audubon Great Plains Probstfield Prairie Phase I - planting completed in 2021!
- Davy/Memorial Park sculptures -- watch for The Beaver Rally, an installation by local artist team Catie Miller and Emily Williams-Wheeler coming soon! This project was funded though a generous donation to the Moorhead Community Fund and grant from the FM Convention & Visitors Bureau.
- Midtown Trail selected by Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails Commission for Legacy Grant Award of $660,925.
- Transportation Alternative Program Grant Application Submitted - Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge at Bluestem Center for the Arts at 50th Ave S (application denied).
- 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
- Installation of new wayfinding message boards at Original Homestead, Viking Ship, and Woodlawn Parks.
- Transportation Alternative Program Grant Application Submitted - River Corridor Trail, 60th Ave bridge improvements (application denied)
- Construction of Blue Goose Trail segment
- Riverkeepers Tree Planting - currently scheduled for Monday, September 4 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at 3501 Riverview Circle South in Moorhead
- New Audubon Great Plains Urban Woods and Prairie sites identified in Oakport Neighborhood - Phase I planting anticipated in 2021.
- 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
2019:
- Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails Commission Grant Application Submitted - River Corridor Trail, Midtown Trail (application denied)
- Transportation Alternative Program Grant Application Submitted - River Corridor Trail, Harvest Trail (application denied)
- Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative - Audubon Great Plains - Moorhead UW&PI Sites
- FM Area Foundation video featuring the Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative
- Downtown Trail Rehabilitation and Homestead Trail segments complete.
- Gooseberry off-road trails courtesy of FM Trailbuilders
- Riverkeepers Tree Planting - currently scheduled for June 7, 2019 from 1:00-4:30 PM - River Oaks Park
- 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
2018:
- Replacement of pedestrian bridge crossing the Red River between Memorial Park in Moorhead and Oak Grove Park in Fargo
- Bike Repair Stations at MB Johnson and Gooseberry Parks provided by Fargo-Moorhead Rotary PM Club.
- MB Johnson Park Projects: fish cleaning station, interpretive signs and bike/pedestrian bridge over Snakey Creek
- River Corridor Trails Map (subject to change)
- 2018 Legacy Grant Application - Harvest and Midtown Trails (application denied)
- Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative - Audubon Great Plains - Moorhead UW&PI Sites
- FM Area Foundation video featuring the Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative
- 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
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:
- Downtown Link Trail (Reconstruction and Realignment) and Homestead Trail selected by the Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails Commission for Legacy Grant Award for $660,600.
- Blue Goose Trail selected to receive $360,000 in funding (MnDOT District 4 Transportation Alternative Program)
- MB Johnson Park selected by the Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails Commission for a 2017 Legacy Grant Award for $1,299,000
- Gooseberry off-road trails courtesy of FM Trailbuilders
- Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative - N River Dr and Riverview Cir S locations
- Adopt the Red Volunteer Program
- Collaboration with River Keepers, including: canoe/kayak rentals, paddling excursions, Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership Grant, Storm Drain Marking Program, Red River Water Festival, adopt programs, community education and outreach events, 800 tree plantings, and downtown and on-the-water litter pick up
2015:
- Construction of 150 person park shelter – MB Johnson Park
- River Corridor Plan - 2015 American Planning Association - MN Chapter Award Winner
- Transportation Alternative Program – grant application for Blue Goose Trail (application denied)
- Audubon Society Urban Woods and Prairies Initiative
- Heritage Gardens and Amphitheater of Moorhead at Woodlawn Park
- Sale of River corridor remnant parcels
- Pavement rehabilitation - downtown trails
- MB Johnson Park Improvements Grant Application - Greater MN Regional Parks and Trails Commission
- Installation of High Water mark signs - multiple locations
- Collaboration with River Keepers, including: canoe/kayak rentals and paddling events, Earth Partnership Grant, storm drain markings, invasive species removal, Water Festival, litter pickup, community education and outreach events, 1,200 tree plantings, and Bike Patrol
- 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