Minneapolis Looking to Rehabilitate Green Zones

Areas of the city historically overburdened with air pollution and brownfield sites will be targeted with local food programs and policies to create and bolster green spaces.

1 minute read

July 11, 2018, 2:00 PM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Stone Arch Bridge

Iris van den Broek / Shutterstock

In hopes of helping areas of the city that have suffered from some of the worst pollution, the city of Minneapolis has designated a number of "Green Zones."

"With input from an Environmental Justice Working Group, the Climate Action Plan included the creation of a Minneapolis Green Zones Initiative, identified as areas of the city that have historically been overburdened by environmental conditions such as air pollution, brownfield sites, blight and substandard housing, and face cumulative impacts of social, economic and political vulnerability," Randy Rodgers reports for Sustainable City Networks.

Minneapolis' Sustainability Program Coordinator Kelly Muellman will not just focus on pollution. "Muellman said the Green Zone plan will also focus on job opportunities, particularly in the new green economy, as well as the quality and affordability of housing in the city’s two designated Green Zones," writes Rodgers. The program will include making city-owned lots available for community gardens and offering some funding to local food businesses.

Tuesday, July 3, 2018 in Sustainable City Networks

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

"Altadena - Not For Sale" yard sign in front of burned down house after Eaton Fire in Altadena, California in January 2025.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations

Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

5 hours ago - Dwell

Dense multistory residential buildings in hilly San Francisco, California.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean

Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

6 hours ago - The San Francisco Standard

Blue self-driving Ford Transit van shuttle in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US

A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.

7 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA