Cedar Lake Parkway: Northbound lane closes between Sunset Boulevard and Cedar Lake Road
Lake of the Isles Parkway: Intermittent full and partial closures to accommodate residential and transit access
West River Parkway: Northbound lane closes between 46th and 11th Avenues S
At its April 1, 2020 meeting, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board of Commissioners passed Resolution 2020-179, which expanded a series of parkway closures to motor vehicle traffic to allow more space for trail users to follow social distancing practices and limit the spread of COVID-19.
The resolution also states that all parkway closures enacted in response to Gov. Walz’s Emergency Executive Order 20-20 Directing Minnesotans to Stay at Home will remain in place until the end of the executive order, which is scheduled to conclude on Friday, April 10, 2020 at 5 pm. Parkway closures will mirror any extension of the executive order.
Parking lots adjacent to the existing and new parkway closures will also be closed in order to limit parkway closures from becoming regional destinations. Please visit parks and open spaces closest to your home.
By 5 am on Saturday, April 4, new closures for Cedar Lake Parkway and Lake of the Isles Parkway, and an extension of a closure enacted last week on West River Parkway will join ones already in place for Lake Harriet Parkway, Lake Nokomis Parkway and Main Street SE. Maps of every closure are posted on the MPRB Road Closures page.
Once closures go into effect:
- Parkway roads will be dedicated to two-way pedestrian traffic; cyclists should remain on bike trails.
- Walking paths will be dedicated to two-way pedestrian traffic.
- Bike paths will remain bike paths in their current direction, if applicable.
Cedar Lake Parkway
The northbound lane along the lake and adjacent parking lots will be closed to motor vehicles and open for pedestrians between Sunset Boulevard and Cedar Lake Road. The southbound land will remain open for one-way motor vehicle traffic.
Map of Cedar Lake Parkway Closure [PDF]
Lake of the Isles Parkway
Full closures to motor vehicle traffic will be in place around the lake, with intermittent single-lane lane openings to allow residential access and both driving lanes open where needed for Metro Transit bus access.
Map of Lakes of the Isles Parkway Closure [PDF]
West River Parkway
The northbound lane along the river will close to motor vehicles and open for pedestrians between 46th Avenue S and 11th Avenue S. The southbound lane will remain open to one-way motor vehicle traffic.
Map of West River Parkway Closure (46th-11th Aves. S) [PDF]
Last week West River Parkway closed to motor vehicle traffic and opened to pedestrians between Plymouth Avenue N and 11th Avenue S, with one lane open to motor vehicles near Portland Avenue to provide access to the Water Works construction site and parking serving 200 2nd St. S.
Exceptions and Conditions
- Emergency vehicles will be allowed on closed sections of parkways and streets at all times.
- Service, delivery and sanitation vehicles will be allowed on closed sections of parkways and streets as part of their regular operations. Vehicle drivers will be required to move and replace barricades.
- Access to residential buildings and residential parking facilities on closed sections of parkways and streets will be maintained.
Social Distancing
The Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control offer the following guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19:
- Do not use parks if you feel sick or have symptoms, including fever, body aches, coughing, nasal congestion, runny nose and sore throat.
- Cover your cough with your elbow, don’t cough into your hands.
- Wash your hands immediately before and after visiting a park or trail.
- Maintain at least six feet of distance between you and other people that are not a part of your household.
Stay Updated
Visit minneapolisparks.org/coronavirus for parkway closure updates and other MPRB FAQs, including facility closings and activity cancellations. Receive timely email updates by visiting minneapolisparks.org/subscribe, entering your email and selecting the “COVID-19” topic in the “News Updates” section.