Celebrating 30 Years of Great River Greening: A Legacy of Restoration and Community Collaboration
01/16/2025
This year, we are thrilled to celebrate a major milestone—30 years of Great River Greening! For three decades, we’ve been restoring and sustainably managing Minnesota’s landscapes. Whether its natural, agricultural or community and urban lands, we engage with communities in hands-on environmental stewardship, and inspire future generations to care for the land and water that sustain us all.
As we celebrate, we will reflect on the remarkable journey we've had, the communities we've impacted, and the vision that drives us forward. In the coming year, our newsletter and blog posts will take you on a journey through our history, showcasing the work that has not only brought us to where we are today but is also shaping our path into the future.
Planting Our Roots: Greening the Great Mississippi
Our story began in 1995 with a single volunteer project along the Mississippi River in Saint Paul, called Greening the Great River. The project was driven by a passionate idea to revitalize a stretch of land known as the Mississippi River Flats —an industrial and business zone across the river from downtown. The idea was sparked by numerous community organizations and individuals, including the former St. Paul Foundation (now called the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation), and Ellen Brown, a management consultant who brought attention to the many concerns related to riverfront development in St. Paul. With the strong support of then newly elected Mayor Norm Coleman, the idea quickly took root and began to flourish.
Ground breaking ceremony at one of the the original Greening the Great River project sites.
Massive volunteer involvement was an essential part of the initial greening project—and it remains a cornerstone of our work today. Guided by the leadership of the newly appointed project director, Rob Buffler, and with the help of more than 450 organizations, businesses, and community groups, and volunteers, we set out to plant trees, shrubs, and native vegetation to reforest the riverfront.
Over the course of five years, from 1995 to 1999, by the time the project was completed, more than 31,000 native trees and shrubs, 25,000 wildflowers, and 50 acres of prairie were planted.
Left: Before photo of Mississippi Flats and the proposed project site.
Right: After photo of the site, with planted species matched to the area's historic vegetation patterns.
The sheer enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers were vital to the success of the project. For example, volunteer Jenny Thao, a then 12th-grader with the Humboldt High School Friendship Club, recalls planting dozens of trees, including fragrant sumac, oaks, maples, and other species.
But it wasn’t just the trees that took root; the community’s connection to the land laid the foundation for the growth of Great River Greening as an official organization.
“The idea of community—it’s so powerful. All different folks, no matter what your background or your ability, benefit from being in nature. I was trained as an environmental educator and it’s always been my agenda to get people out, especially young people, connecting with nature. That’s what’s needed in the world.”
—Rob Buffer, project manager of the Greening the Great River project and later the first Executive Director Great River Greening.
A Legacy of Collaboration: Building Partnerships Across the State
As we reflect on the past 30 years, it’s impossible not to acknowledge the importance of community and collaboration in our work. From those early days along the Mississippi, Great River Greening’s success has been fueled by the collective effort of thousands of individuals, community organizations, businesses, and local governments.
While the Mississippi River remains a cornerstone of our work, our reach has expanded far beyond its banks. Since our start, we have restored and sustainably managed over 50,000 acres of habitat across the state. And we have an ambitious goal to restore an additional 50,000 acres over the next five years.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. Together, we are creating a lasting legacy of restoration and community empowerment that will benefit generations to come. Here’s to 30 years of progress—and to the next 30!
Stay tuned for more stories, reflections, and updates as we continue to celebrate this special anniversary throughout the year. We are just getting started!