Summit Avenue Regional Trail Plan

Welcome, thank you for joining the conversation!

The City Parks and Recreation Department will engage community members to inform and develop a Regional Trail Plan for Summit Avenue that reviews the corridor from the Mississippi River to Downtown Saint Paul. This plan will evaluate opportunities, constraints, and feasibility of a regional trail facility within the corridor and will serve as a guide to future transportation, pedestrian, and parkway improvements.

Approved Summit Avenue Regional Trail Plan

Executive Summary

Project Update: 10/26/2023

The Metropolitan Council voted to approve the Summit Avenue Regional Trail Plan at the October 25, 2023 meeting.

Project Update: 10/23/2023

The Summit Avenue Regional Trail Plan is on the Metropolitan Council's agenda for Wednesday, October 25th, 2023

Project Update: 10/04/2023

Earlier this year, a citizen petition was submitted requesting an environmental assessment worksheet on the potential impact of the Summit Avenue Regional Trail Plan on trees along the proposed trail route.

The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) designated the City as the responsible governmental unit to review this citizen petition request.

As detailed in the letter [Letter to EQB], the City is able to effectively mitigate potential impacts on trees based upon the City’s past and current tree management practices as well as the tree management policies contained in the Summit Avenue Regional Trail Plan proposal [Ch. 05 'Natural Resources and Stewardship Plan] .

For these reasons, the City has determined that an environmental assessment worksheet for the Summit Avenue Regional Trail Plan is not warranted at this juncture, and we have notified the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board that the petition request was denied.

Project FAQs

Draft Final Regional Trail Plan

The February public comment period on the 90% draft has concluded. Thank you to everyone who has participated and shared their feedback to help shape the plan!

A public comment period was held through February - thank you to all who participated! These comments are posted HERE. There will be additional public comment opportunities available when the final plan is reviewed for formal approval.

Plan Name Change

Please note that the name of the 90% draft plan has changed. As the City of Saint Paul takes initial steps to acknowledge its role in systemic racism, we recognize the power of language. The term “master”, which is often defined as commanding control or being eminently skilled, has been identified as a word to remove in certain contexts due to its connection with the history of masters and slavery in the United States.

During the process, there will be emphasis on developing preferred cross sections for the corridor overall, ahead of future street reconstruction efforts. Summit Avenue is a Regional Trail Search Corridor identified in the City's Comprehensive Plan and Metropolitan Council's Thrive MSP 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan.

Anticipated Schedule (tentative)
2021
Oct-Nov. Engagement Website & Project Kickoff

2022 | 2023
Dec-Feb. | Advisory Committee Meetings & Corridor Evaluation
Mar-Apr. | Plan Development & Corridor Analysis
May-Jun. | Design Concepts & Public Info. Session
Fall | Draft Plan & Open House
Winter-Fall | Final Plan & Approval Processes

Project One-Page Overview
Project Timeline
Summary of Participation on Community Engagement Website

The engagement tools on this site are now closed, thank you to all who participated! Summaries of engagement feedback will be included as part of the draft plan document. Trail concepts are available from the June 6th Public Information Session HERE

Look Around!

On this site, you'll find images and video of existing conditions along the corridor. There are also graphics illustrating typical conditions within the public right-of-way.

Visit Again!

As the Plan Process moves along, you'll find important documents, key dates, and supporting information posted on this site.

Funding for the Regional Trail Plan has been secured from the Parks and Trails Legacy Grant.