Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail Wins Park Design Award

October 09, 2019

The Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail received the national Innovation in Park Design Award at the 2019 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Annual Conference in Baltimore on Sept. 25.

NRPA Innovation Awards recognize park and recreation agencies nationwide that have improved and strengthened their communities through innovative practices in park design, health and wellness, conservation and social equity. Specifically, the Innovation in Park Design Award recognizes a park and recreation agency that manages a unique park or facility that embraces innovative technology, strategies or programs to improve their community. 

The Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail travels 15 miles through Hopkins, Minnetonka, Edina, Richfield and Bloomington. Because each of the cities is fully developed, the project required complex planning efforts, multiple partnerships and creative engineering. The trail was purposefully routed to access transit and major employment nodes whenever possible, and is part of Three Rivers’ 160-mile regional trail network. It is also one of the most scenic in the Three Rivers system, with nearly two miles of boardwalks traversing long stretches of wetlands and its namesake creek. It is open year-round to bicyclists, walkers, runners and dog-walkers.

“Partnerships at all levels of government were critical to the success of this project,” said Three Rivers Park District Board Chair John Gunyou. “In particular, I’d like to thank the City of Edina and the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, and I’m grateful to NRPA for this honor.” 

“NRPA is proud to recognize innovation in parks and recreation with these awards,” said Kristine Stratton, NRPA president and CEO. “Congratulations to this year’s winners who have demonstrated their commitment to building communities through innovative park and recreation practices.” 

Learn more about the NRPA Innovation Awards