The Tour de Sprawl 2003 - Sites
A full-page version of the map is available here (61k).
A- START - Springbrook Nature Center
Live music, entertaining speeches and a kick-off rally with the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation. Rally to help save Springbrook Nature Area from potential golf course development. This pristine 127 acre nature area includes wooded lands, marshland and boardwalks throughout.
B- Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
Ride the scenic Mississippi River Trail. Learn how development impacts the river with The Friends of the Mississippi River and meet the staff of Anoka County Parks. Well cross the powerful Coon Rapids Dam and meet with experts on river health and restoration of community parks and nature areas.
C- Coon Rapids Park 'N' Ride
Traverse the heart of Coon Rapids to the leaders of Transit for Livable Communities at an innovative multi-use transit development. This park n ride borders the proposed North Star Rail Line, a large open space and large residential and commercial areas. An excellent example multi-use transit development in Minnesota.
D- Sprawl Mall vs. Main Street
See the difference community design can make. Ride from a typical big box strip mall to historic Main Street in Anoka.
E- Rum River Nature Area
From Main Street, well head north to the endangered Rum River Nature Area to meet the leaders of local open space preservation group Protect Our Parks. This endangered 275 acre open space consists of oak savannah & open prairie/floodplain. Protect our parks and members of Anokas City Council have fought hard to permanently preserve this beautiful open space from residential development.
F- Rivers Point Town Homes Project
Ride along the Rum River Trail to hear from local elected officials about at this controversial residential development. Though a mixed-use residential development built into a walk-able neighborhood, this development also serves to illustrate the need for adequate public involvement in the community development process.
G- FINISH - Peninsula Point Park
Stroll across the Rum River and ride down to this wonderfully renovated community park. Enjoy live music, swimming, food and closing remarks from our organizers. Shuttle buses will be on hand to return riders to our starting location, leaving every 15-20 minutes.
For more information, please contact:
Trevor Russell - Open Space Preservation Organizer at The Sierra Club.
2327 E. Franklin Avenue #1,
Minneapolis MN 55406-1024
Phone: (612) 659-9124
Email:
trevor.russell@sierraclub.org
Sponsored by The Sierra Club, The Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, The Friends of the Mississippi River, and Transit for Livable Communities