Dakota-led organization unveils design for restoring land, water and bluff near Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls) in Minneapolis
The restoration – targeted to begin in spring 2026 – will dramatically transform the downtown riverfront while reclaiming Dakota stewardship of the culturally significant site
Minneapolis, Minn. – November 17, 2025 –
The Dakota-led nonprofit Owámniyomni Okhódayapi today announced its design for the restoration of a five-acre site at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls), adjacent to the Upper Lock on Ȟaȟa Wakpá (Mississippi River) in Minneapolis, along with three additional acres managed by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.
Project construction is targeted to begin in spring 2026. Once complete, the restoration will significantly improve both wildlife habitats and the human experience at one of Minnesota’s most popular and iconic outdoor spaces.
“We’re thrilled to share our design plans for Owámniyomni as we progress toward our goal of transforming this site into a space of beauty, education, healing and connection,” said Shelley Buck, president of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi. “By centering Dakota voices, we’ve developed a design that emphasizes interconnectedness – uplifting the intrinsic relationship between land, water and other relatives – while restoring habitat and creating a welcoming space that will benefit community for generations to come.”
Key design features of the Owámniyomni project include:
- Restoration of the river bluff that evokes the site’s natural limestone formations.
- Reintroduction of Native plant species, including oak savanna and upland prairie, using seeds and soils sourced from Dakota Tribal lands in Minnesota.
- Transformation of water and shoreline, including the re-creation of a 25-foot water cascade over the original escarpment and addition of access points for visitors to physically connect with the river.
- Ecological restoration of the riverfront and natural habitats, supporting migratory birds, fish and wildlife.
- Creation of ADA-accessible pathways, connecting Owámniyomni and the riverfront with the Stone Arch Bridge and extensive Minneapolis trail network.
Construction will include removing the second level of the former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers visitor center building and the Upper Lock parking lot. The restoration will occur over a phased timeline, with phase one focused on the land and plant elements in 2026. Phase two, which will focus on water and shoreline restoration, is planned for 2027-2028.
To learn more about the project design, visit the project website at owamniyomni.org/design. Renderings and photo assets for media use are available for download at owamniyomni.org/resources/media.
“This milestone marks real progress on a historic project years in the making—transforming our riverfront into a space that honors the Dakota people and welcomes everyone to connect and learn,” said Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. “Owámniyomni is a showcase for what makes Minneapolis special: when we put Dakota voices and values at the center, we show who we are as a community. Right here by the Stone Arch Bridge, we’re celebrating the water, the people, and the relationships that define our city. The City of Minneapolis is proud to work alongside Owámniyomni Okhódayapi to make this vision real.”
The design team is led by a group of Dakota Knowledge Keepers representing multiple Dakota Tribes and communities. GGN is the lead design and landscape architecture firm for the project, while Full Circle Indigenous Planning + Design supports the Dakota Knowledge Keepers and transforms heritage guidance into design direction. Duval leads project implementation, delivering the project in line with Owámniyomni Okhódayapi’s mission and operating strategy of all-encompassing care.
“The environmental restoration of Owámniyomni reflects the enduring values of the Dakota who know this place best,” said David Malda, principal architect at GGN. “Beyond beautification, the design seeks to welcome Dakota people back to a place from which they were historically exiled while inviting the public to engage with the land, its history and its culture.”
“From the beginning, this project felt almost impossible – to restore and bring life back to the Mississippi River in her own way. Yet today, that vision is becoming real. What once felt unattainable is now taking shape through a design that invites connection and reciprocity,” said Juanita Corbine Espinosa (Spirit Lake Nation), a Dakota Knowledge Keeper on the design team. “This project isn’t about building monuments; it’s about rebuilding relationships – with the river, the land, the wildlife and with ourselves. The gentleness of the design calls people to come, to sit, to listen, to experience the power and beauty of Owámniyomni – and to remember that what we do for the river, it does for us.”
Funding for the Owámniyomni restoration will come from a mix of public and private funders as the organization leads a $60 million fundraising campaign. To date, $35 million has been raised, thanks to early support from the Paul and Mary Reyelts, Mark and Nancy Wilson, McKnight Foundation, Bush Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation and additional private funders. Funding is also provided by the Outdoor Heritage Fund and the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Owámniyomni Okhódayapi is actively working to raise the additional $4.7 million in funding needed to begin land restoration in spring 2026.
The organization is on track to gain ownership of the federal land through conveyance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late 2026.
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About Owámniyomni Okhódayapi
Owámniyomni Okhódayapi is a Dakota-led organization creating a future where Dakota culture has a vital presence and Dakota values – such as mni wičóni, or water is life – are embedded into Minnesotans’ communal existence. The nonprofit is currently working to transform five acres of land at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls), a place of deep cultural and spiritual significance to the Dakota people, into a place of restoration, education, healing and connection. For more information, visit owamniyomni.org.
Media contact: Madeleine Rush, 651-214-6937, [email protected]
