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*****EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES*****
A MIGHTY RIVER OPENS THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR The outdoor stage at the DNR Building will ring with songs and stories of the Mississippi River starting at 10:00 a.m., on the State Fair's opening day, Thursday, August 22. Musicians, poets, dancers, puppeteers, interpreters and living history "characters" will inspire, entertain and share the richness of this national treasure running through the heart of the Twin Cities. A different performance will start every hour of the day, from 10:00 a.m. until the last performance starts at 5:00 p.m. The day's schedule is co-sponsored by the National Park Service's Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (NPS/MNRRA) and the DNR and will be hosted by the Park Service's "Singing Ranger," Charlie Maguire. The National Park Service will also have an information tent staffed by Park Rangers for Fair-goers interested in learning about MNRRA and other NPS park units. The information tent will be located on Nelson Street, near the bleachers of the DNR information area and outdoor stage. For more information: www.nps.gov/miss or (651)290-3030, ext. 234 LOCK AND DAM VISITOR CENTERS EXTEND HOURS After a period of restrictions on hours due to security concerns, the Visitor Centers at both the Upper St. Anthony Falls (Portland and the River) and Lock #1 (near the Ford Bridge) again are now open for visitation for extended hours. The Upper St. Anthony Falls center is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Lock and Dam #1 is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. *****UPDATES AND OTHERS NEWS***** SECOND KEYSTONE FOR TWIN CITIES AHRI As noted in an earlier message, the Upper Mississippi American Heritage River Initiative Twin Cities Steering Committee was asked to identify a second "Keystone" priority that is deserving of federal funding or support. (The first Keystone identified was funding for the NPS/MNRRA grant program.) After solicitation of input from committee members and others, it was decided that the second Keystone will be to secure funding for the Mississippi River Trail. This bike/walking trail is being planned to extend the length of the Mississippi. In Minneapolis, it will utilize existing trails along the River where possible, but there are several segments of trails within Minneapolis that are considered by the Metro Trails and Open Space Partnership to be high-priority gaps to be filled. These include the segments on both sides of the Upper River and the gap between Main Street SE and the University of Minnesota. If funding is successfully secured for the Mississippi River Trail, the hope is that Minneapolis will be able to apply for funding for specific trails projects in the city. |
