Great River Passage Conservancy

Organizational Summary

The Great River Passage Conservancy envisions a Saint Paul that is The River Capital, where we bring the river back to the center of our public life and live not just by—but with—the river.

Working in partnership with the City of Saint Paul’s Great River Passage Initiative, the Great River Passage Conservancy leads advocacy and private fundraising efforts for three key capital projects along Saint Paul’s 17 miles of Mississippi River.

Project Approach: I developed organizational leadership structures for a new nonprofit supporting the Great River Passage Initiative, led the strategic project development for the three capital projects, and guided leaders and partners to understand their roles and make strategic decisions as I navigated the political and community dynamics among project stakeholders.

River Learning Center

The combined River Learning Center and proposed National Park Service Headquarters and Visitor Center will be a one-of-a-kind national hub of Mississippi River-focused recreation, education and environmental stewardship where people can experience the land, water and culture of the river.

The River Balcony

The River Balcony is a 1.5-mile promenade along downtown Saint Paul’s Mississippi river bluff, connecting public spaces, civic landmarks, and development sites, providing new connections to the river and sparking economic development along the riverfront.

East Side River District

Long disconnected from the surrounding community, this complex 1,000 acre area of the river has many shared uses, including Dakota homeland and sacred sites, industry, parks, and bird migration route. GRPC and partners are working together to create a world class vision for the East Side River District, where historically incompatible uses can comfortably coexist and the landscape design reveal the area’s history, heal a compromised landscape, connect people to and through the area and protect the sensitive ecology and sacred site.