Ben Thompson's vision of Saint Paul, a Great River Park, courtesy of the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation.

1992

Architect Ben Thompson provides his vision for the Mississippi River valley in Saint Paul for community leaders; coins the phrase "Great River Park."

1993

The Saint Paul Foundation hires Ellen Brown to develop a status report on past, present and possible future activities related to the downtown Saint Paul riverfront.

1994

The "white paper" developed by Brown is presented to newly elected Mayor Norm Coleman, and The Saint Paul Foundation agrees to provide initial funding for a community tree-planting project in river valley. Brown begins to put project together.

The original project area runs from the High Bridge downstream to Holman Field, on both sides of the river from bluff to bluff. Planting is on both public and private land in the river valley.

Goals for the project are threefold: to restore ecological function to this part of the river valley, to create attractive green space on the river near downtown Saint Paul and to involve citizens in planting efforts.

1995

The Saint Paul Foundation officially launches its Greening the Great River Park project. Two full-time staff are hired.

The first community-volunteer planting is held in April; approximately 175 volunteers plant hundreds of trees and shrubs at the entrance to Harriet Island.

By end of 1995, 2,591 trees and shrubs are planted by more than 700 volunteers.

1996

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provides $300,000 in funding to the Greening project through the Reinvest in Minnesota program.

A youth service-learning program is established to involve schools in planting projects. By end of 1996, a total of 8,740 trees and shrubs are planted with the help of more than 2,500 volunteers.

1997

The Greening project receives a $400,000 appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature.

The project's largest planting to date was held in May at the Northern States Power (now Xcel Energy) High Bridge plant. More than 1,000 volunteers plant nearly 6,000 trees and shrubs.

By end of 1997, a total of 24,100 trees and shrubs have been added to the river valley through the efforts of nearly 5,000 volunteers.

1998

The need for expanded restoration efforts in the Twin Cities is determined. Strategic planning for the continuation of the Greening project beyond 1999 begins.

The Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources recommends funding for a collaborative regional Mississippi/Minnesota river valley restoration project, known as the Big Rivers Partnership.

By the end of 1998, a total of 27,671 native trees and shrubs have been planted in the river valley, thanks to the help of more than 6,000 community volunteers.

1999

A new nonprofit organization, Great River Greening, is established on July 1, 1999.

Programs of Great River Greening include the Big Rivers Partnership, the River Steward program and the fee-for-service Greening Strategies.

By the end of 1999, more than 31,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted in the river valley through the efforts of more than 7,000 volunteers.

2000

Great River Greening begins to involve volunteers in new types of restoration activities, including exotic species removal, stewardship and prairie seed collection. Greening hosts 30 events with many new partners, including cities outside the metro area.

Our volunteer supervisor training program is expanded to include new advanced training opportunities. Sessions are offered in pruning, native plant identification, prairie seed collection and exotic species control.

By the end of 2000, more than 31,500 native trees and shrubs have been planted in the river valley thanks to the help of more than 9,100 volunteers.

2001

Great River Greening celebrates the participation of its 10,000th volunteer in May. Greening's 14 staff work with volunteers on 25 restoration projects in the river valleys on both public and private land.

One hundred twenty-eight volunteer supervisors take advantage of restoration training sessions, bringing Greening's corps of river valley restoration leaders to 460.

The Greening web site is redesigned and expanded to offer extensive restoration information and research resources to land managers and the public.

By the end of 2001, more than 35,000 trees and shrubs and 16,500 prairie grasses and wildflowers have been planted in the Mississippi and Minnesota river valleys thanks to the help of more than 10,700 volunteers.