Mill Ruins Park to Become an Underwater Attraction? 49 Steps to Madness PT 3 - The Crown Hydro Project

This is installament 3 of a 5 part series looking at the proposed Crown Hydro project.  The State of Minnesota is attempting to force the Minneapolis Park Board to not only approve this project, but also provide Nationally Historic Parkland to a private developer.

The Crown Hydro project at St. Anthony Falls and Mill Ruins Park, if approved, will result in a huge increase in the volume of water flowing into Mill Ruins Park through the historic tailrace.

Anyone who has spent time in this area of the park knows what this could mean.  Would this area of the park be underwater?  Will it have to be shut down for public safety?

The current Crown Hydro project to be voted on at the May 18 meeting of the Minneapolis Park Board makes no mention of this risk to Mill Ruins Park.  Has anyone taken a step back to identify the potential risks of this project?  We have no way of knowing how real this risk is until a thorough evaluation of this project is undertaken.  At this point, sadly, none exists.

Bottom line: The Minneapolis Park Board is scheduled to vote on this project on Wednesday, May 18.  If it passes, Crown Hydro, and a new underwater amusement attraction, could be just a few steps, and a few days away.

Download our flyer to for info on how you can help stop this ill-conceived project…

About This Series
Kim and I walked down to check out the location of the Crown Hydro project located in Mill Ruins Park at St. Anthony Falls.  The proximity to the Stone Arch Bridge and other important historical treasures surprised us, so I thought I'd take a rough measure - I'd "step it off".  It was 49 steps from the center of the proposed Hydroelectric facility to the foot of the Stone Arch Bridge.  I decided to dig a little deeper.  This 5 part series is the result of that effort.

49 Steps to Madness - The Crown Hydro Project

Pt 1 - Stone Arch Bridge to Be Shut Down?

Pt 2 - St. Anthony Falls to Be Shut Off 9 Months Per Year?

Pt 3 - Mill Ruins Park to Become and Underwater Attraction?

Pt 4 - Shake, Rattle & Ruins

Pt 5 - State Planning a Hostile Takeover of Minneapolis

Update on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 7:41AM by David Tinjum

Please attend the Minneapolis Park Board meeting May 18 at 5:00 PM to show your support for stopping this ill-conceived project.

Contact your elected officials and ask them to drop their support...