A Discussion with Michaela Neu, Project Coordinator, Green Minneapolis

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Michaela NeuGreen Minneapolis envisions a green future for Minneapolis with trees on every street and vibrant public spaces. It is a powerful link between local governments and private funders, and will continue to help Minneapolis grow and thrive.

We talked to Michaela Neu, Project Coordinator, about Green Minneapolis projects, our urban tree canopy and how you can be part of their efforts.

Q:  Green Minneapolis was formed in 2015 to "enhance the downtown experience." What are some success stories in the past seven years?

A:  We’ve had quite a few - I’ll highlight several for your readers.

The Commons

In 2015, Green Minneapolis led a partnership with the City of Minneapolis and downtown business leaders that raised approximately $15 million dollars from generous companies and individuals for The Commons, a 4.2-acre green oasis that replaced surface parking lots and helped launch the revitalization of East Town. In conjunction with the opening of the adjacent US Bank Stadium, The Commons opened in the summer of 2016 and has hosted dozens of stadium related events drawing thousands of visitors, as well as serving as a tranquil and beautiful green space for residents to recreate and relax. Now under the ongoing care and management of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, The Commons continues to expand its programming and build its community of park users. Green Minneapolis is proud of its leadership role in establishing The Commons as a new and welcoming park in the center of downtown.

Peavey Plaza

Peavey Plaza

Green Minneapolis spearheaded the $10 million fundraising campaign to revitalize Peavey Plaza, with contributions from the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, Target Corporation and many other companies and individual donors. The design team, led by Coen+Partners, facilitated a project that celebrates the Plaza’s historic modernist design, enhances sustainability and makes the Plaza accessible to all. The renovated Peavey Plaza, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places, has been open for three years, and its restoration has won several awards, including two this year - the prestigious 2022 Design Award of Excellence from Docomomo US, and the 2022 Best Activated Space Award from Minneapolis Downtown Council. 

And with pandemic restrictions lifted, this year Green Minneapolis inaugurated our Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, with 27 different artists and 65 free performances, attracting thousands of people back downtown to enjoy free music, dance and theater with performances by our programming partners including the Minnesota Orchestra, Cantus, Children’s Theatre Company, James Sewell Ballet and Westminster Church’s Music Program. Due to the resounding success of this year’s programming, next summer we plan to increase the number of performances from 65 to 100. Every one of these performances will be free and open to all, and every artist will be compensated - made possible by donations from Green Minneapolis supporters. We believe in the power of art to nurture human connection, and parks and public spaces like Peavey Plaza are some of the best places in our community where people from all walks of life come together to relax, recreate and get to know one another.

Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative

Launched in 2021, Green Minneapolis expanded its vision for a green city to encompass an urban tree planting initiative focused on mitigating heat islands and environmental inequities across Minneapolis and the seven-county metro area. Called the Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative, it is a 20-year program to plant and maintain 5 million new trees across the Twin Cities.  

Q:  Please tell us more about the Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative.

A:  Green Minneapolis’ Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative is a public/private partnership focused on significantly expanding the urban tree canopy across Minneapolis and the Twin Cities 7 County Metro Area. Designed to address the most harmful impacts of climate change on our region’s residents, it is a 20-year vision to increase the Metro Area’s tree canopy by 30% through planting and maintaining 5 million additional trees on public and private land.

This initiative requires significant new funding, and Green Minneapolis is working with a coalition of environmental organizations and local companies to increase funding for urban tree canopy planting and maintenance. Green Minneapolis joined a coalition of national environmental organizations advocating for urban tree funding to be included in the Inflation Reduction Act, resulting in $1.5 billion of new funding for urban forestry available to cities across the country.  And at the state level, Green Minneapolis is working with its coalition partners to advocate for increases in urban tree funding to help replace trees lost to Emerald Ash Borer.

Lastly, Green Minneapolis’ urban tree carbon offset program is the first to issue carbon offsets in Minnesota, and is the largest in the country.  Our first project with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) includes over 23,000 newly planted trees, and was verified and started selling carbon offset to local companies this fall.  Proceeds from the sale of carbon offsets from this program are projected to generate millions of dollars in new funding for our tree planting partners over the next 20 years.

In addition to working with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, this fall Green Minneapolis launched a project with Hennepin County, and we are in discussions with other Twin Cities local governments as well. To support this expansive scope, Green Minneapolis is forming a coalition of environmentally focused organizations to support the initiative, including The Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land, Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Friends of the Mississippi River, Mississippi Park Connection, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Sagiliti and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

Q:  Why is the urban tree canopy important to Minneapolis?

A:  Green Minneapolis believes that urban tree canopy must be considered an essential component of urban infrastructure that keeps our cities livable and economically vibrant - just like our transit systems, water systems and electricity grid. In addition to sequestering carbon, urban trees provide other quantifiable benefits to urban communities including reducing flooding and water pollution, reducing particulate air pollution, mitigating urban heat islands and reducing heating and cooling energy use. Tree canopy also increases property values, contributes to our mental health, provides habitat for wildlife, reduces crime, slows car traffic, and sustains urban arborist jobs. There is no better technology for making our cities more sustainable and climate resilient than the tree.

Unfortunately, our tree canopy is threatened in Minneapolis and across the metro area from the Emerald Ash Borer, difficult growing conditions due to climate change and increased development. Now, more than ever, is the time to invest in growing our urban tree canopy.

Q:  I read that $1M of American Rescue Plan Funds allocated to Minneapolis may be used to jump start an initiative to plant 200,000 trees by 2040. How is that program proceeding? 

A:  To meet the goal of planting 200,000 additional trees across Minneapolis, the MPRB needs to plant on average 10,000 new trees each year. Long term funding for this level of tree planting is not yet in place. The $1M in American Rescue Plan funds we secured for the MPRB will get them to their tree planting goals in 2023 and 2024, but after 2024 the funding required is not yet in place. Proceeds from the urban tree carbon offset program will help fill some of the funding gap, but other sources - from new state, federal and philanthropic sources - are required.

Q:  How may we as citizens support the efforts of Green Minneapolis?

A:  The Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative brings together individuals and companies that are taking action to reduce their environmental footprint by investing in the local tree canopy and community. You can help make a difference by donating to Green Minneapolis’ Twin Cities Urban Forest Fund, where funds will be used to plant and maintain trees across the Metro Area.

Q:  This is all great news for Minneapolis and the local area. How may we follow your news?

A:  One can sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.