Roadside plantings on Minnesota Department of Transportation property in North Minneapolis

Hennepin County is collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to plant 160 trees across seven sites on their rights-of-way along interstate 94 corridor. These sites present an opportunity to increase the environmental and public health benefits that come from roadside trees. Trees planted along roadsides are shown to improve local air quality, reduce flooding, provide shade for cooling effects in the summer and break winter winds, help local wildlife, and improve mental well-being of community members. Tree species planted during this project will tolerate conditions such as road salt, a variety of different soils, and trap particulate matter. The diversity of tree species will also increase their resiliency to climate change.

Trees will be planted along the interstate 94 corridor in the North Minneapolis neighborhoods of: Fowell, Mckinley, Hawthorn, Near North during summer and fall of 2024.

Volunteer planting and Tree Stewards training

A volunteer planting and Tree Stewards training was held on June 1. In total, 10 community members participated, and University of Minnesota Urban Forestry Outreach and Research staff assisted.

Participants in the training learned about basic tree care and management, Hennepin County forestry programs, and the benefits of trees in an urban landscape. The planting was held at the intersection of N 4^th Street and 36^th Avenue in Minneapolis and 41 trees were planted with the help of volunteers.

Learn more

For more information about this project, contact Leslie Alcantar Mejia at leslie.alcantarmejia@hennepin.us.