Red Lake Nation Enhancing Community Connections Through Trails and Parks

Abstract

The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians (or Red Lake Nation), in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), is engaged in ongoing efforts to increase livability and safety through the reconstruction of a 4-mile stretch of Highway 1, which connects the communities of Red Lake and Redby. The reconstruction project will include a separated, paved, multi-use trail parallel to Highway 1 to enhance safety for all road users; as well as seven small pocket parks and one larger park along the corridor. The Red Lake Nation has previously collaborated with the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs and asked for assistance to gather community feedback for physical amenities and cultural features that could be incorporated into the parks. The goal of the project was to provide background data, evidence, maps, and designs to guide Tribal decisions about future infrastructure projects, and support future grant proposals and community visioning work. Community preferences for cultural features and physical amenities were captured through a community preferences survey. Quantitative and qualitative survey results were used to create community-informed, data-driven design principles and elements, which were visualized through sketches. These sketches and StoryMap can be used by the Red Lake Nation in ongoing community engagement efforts. A people-centered Highway 1 trail corridor and park system which incorporates Red Lake Nation history, traditions, values, culture, and Ojibwe language can further language revitalization efforts, community belonging, and sovereignty within the Red Lake Nation.