Kenilworth Trail Threatened: How you can help

The treasured Kenilworth Trail--which connects the Midtown Greenway with Cedar Lake Trail and carries about 3,000 people a day--could be eliminated if freight rail is co-located with the forthcoming Southwest Light Rail Transit line. The reality is that the freight rail decision is certainly the toughest around the SW LRT design and has hundreds of neighbors in St. Louis Park out promoting the co-location in Minneapolis so that they don't have impacts there. There are options that preserve the trail and allow the SW LRT to move forward.

Picture source

We need a really strong show of support for preserving the Kenilworth Trail at the following upcoming public meetings (full details):

July 17: Minneapolis

Jones-Harrison Residence

3700 Cedar Lake Avenue, Minneapolis

Open House: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Presentation: 5:30 – 6:15 p.m.

Facilitated Q & A Session: 6:15 – 7:00 p.m.

Google Map

July 18: St. Louis Park

St. Louis Park High School

6425 W 33rd Street, St. Louis Park

Open House: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Presentation: 5:30 – 6:15 p.m.

Facilitated Q & A Session: 6:15 – 7:00 p.m.

Google Map

Other ways to help

1. Contact Governor Dayton and your Metropolitan Council Member. The Metropolitan Council will make the final decision on the routing; they are appointed by Governor Dayton.

Contact Governor Dayton: http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/ 

Contact the local Metropolitan Council Members (or find yours here):

Susan Haigh, Chair: [email protected]

James Brimeyer (St. Louis Park and part of SW Mpls): [email protected]

Gary Cunningham (Mpls and Robbinsdale): [email protected]

Adam Duininck (Mpls): [email protected]

Message: The Kenilworth Trail is a critical regional assest that needs to be protected as part of the final SW LRT design.

*Include your personal story of why the trail is important to you and why you'd like to see both SW LRT and the Kenilworth trail.

2. Share this information with your friends around the region who care about the Kenilworth Trail. It is very important that the Metropolitan Council knows that this isn't just an issue for local residents, but a key part of our bicycle network and park system.

3. Write a letter to the editor. Submit to your local neighborhood paper or the Star Tribune in support of design for Southwest LRT that protects the Kenilworth Trail.

4. Get a lawn sign. The "LRT Done Right" group has lawn signs to show your support for protecting the Kenilworth Trail. To get one for your yard, submit a comment that you'd like one on this page.