MINNEAPOLIS — After nearly a decade of relationship building, community engagement, and visioning, Owámniyomni Okhódayapi announced the design for the cultural and environmental restoration of Owámniyomni.
The project will address decades of disruption caused by industrial structures, including the concrete Upper Lock, which has blocked access to the Falls and altered the natural riverfront for more than 60 years.
“This is a milestone in transforming Owámniyomni into a space of beauty, education, healing, and connection,” said Shelley Buck, president of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi. “By centering Dakota voices, our design emphasizes the intrinsic relationships between land, water, and all relatives, while restoring habitat and creating a welcoming space for the community for generations to come.”
Design highlights
- Bluff and riverfront restoration: The project will restore natural limestone formations and ecological conditions on the river bluff.
- Native plant reintroduction: Oak savanna, upland prairie, and other species will be planted using seeds and soils from Dakota Tribal lands.
- Water transformation: A 25-foot cascade will be recreated over the original escarpment, with visitor access points that allow physical connection to the river.
- Habitat enhancement: Migratory birds, fish, and wildlife will benefit from restored ecological conditions.
- Accessibility and connectivity: ADA-accessible pathways will link Owámniyomni, the Stone Arch Bridge, and Minneapolis’s trail network.
Construction will be phased. Phase one, beginning in 2026, focuses on land preparation and planting. Phase two, scheduled for 2027–2028, will focus on water and shoreline restoration, including the removal of portions of the former Army Corps visitor center and the Upper Lock parking lot. Some demolition activities may begin before the federal land is officially conveyed to Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, which is expected to occur in late 2026.
“This milestone marks real progress on a historic project—transforming our riverfront into a space that honors the Dakota people and welcomes everyone,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “Owámniyomni is a showcase for what makes Minneapolis special: centering Dakota voices and values shows who we are as a community.”
The design team is led by Dakota Knowledge Keepers from multiple tribes, supported by GGN as the lead design and landscape architecture firm, with Full Circle Indigenous Planning and Design guiding the translation of cultural knowledge into practical design. Duval Companies will implement the project.
David Malda, principal architect at GGN, said, “Beyond beautification, the design welcomes Dakota people back to a place from which they were historically exiled and invites the public to engage with the land, its history, and its culture.”
The $60 million restoration campaign has raised $35 million to date through public and private support, including contributions from the Paul and Mary Reyelts, Mark and Nancy Wilson, McKnight Foundation, Bush Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation, the Outdoor Heritage Fund, and the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Owámniyomni Okhódayapi continues fundraising to cover the remaining $4.7 million needed to begin land restoration in 2026.
“This project isn’t about building monuments; it’s about rebuilding relationships—with the river, the land, the wildlife, and with ourselves,” Spirit Lake Nation Dakota Knowledge Keeper Juanita Corbine Espinosa added. “The design calls people to come, to sit, to listen, to experience the power and beauty of Owámniyomni.”
For more details, renderings, and media assets, visit owamniyomni.org/design.
