Sunrise on the Mississippi

Minneapolis Parks Foundation > News & Events > Events > Sunrise on the Mississippi

Beginning in 2015, Twin Cities community leaders have come together every year along the Minneapolis Riverfront to champion parks that transform human life. Sunrise on the Mississippi โ€” the annual breakfast fundraiser for Minneapolis parks โ€” has become an inspiring and joyful part of our communityโ€™s outdoor experience.

Seen at Sunrise 2023

Sunrise on the Mississippi returned to Boom Island Park on September 7, 2023 for a lovely, cool morning, celebrating parks and community. We heard from Nisha Botchwey, Dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs,ย about theย significance and importance of parks in our public realm. She emphasizedย the numerous benefits parks provide beyond their green surfaces,ย “they’re learning environments and sacred spaces in communities that foster memories, emotions, and connections.”ย We also welcomedย Harmonee Harrison andย Zavien Neal, both youth apprentices from Juxtaposition Arts, to highlightย the making of and inspiration behind the newly createdย “Riverview” art installation along 26th Ave. N. With your support, we raised overย $80,000ย for transformative parks, thank you! Check out some photo highlights below.


Seen at Sunrise 2022

Sunrise on the Mississippi 2022 brought us back together at Boom Island Park for a beautiful, sunny morning in celebration and support of Minneapolis Parks. The successful morning brought nearly 250 park-goers together to re-engage with colleagues, friends, and change-makers. We were honored to hear from Superintendent Al Bangoura, of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, now serving in his 4th year in this role. With your support, we raised nearly $115,000 for transformative parks, thank you! Check out some photo highlights below.


Seen at Sunrise 2021

Nearly 200 people joined us at Boom Island or online via Zoom to hear Toni L. Griffin’s virtual keynote talk about her groundbreaking approach to creating just cities through her work as Professor in Practice in Urban Design at Harvard Graduate School of Design, Founder of urbanAC LLC, and Founder and Director of the Just City Lab. Paul Bauknight’s interview with Toni, and Dorothy Bridges and Tom Evers’ remarks, brought it home to Minneapolis. Thank you for making another Sunrise a rousing success! Your generous support this year helped us raise over $93,000 for transformative parks and programs. Check out some photo highlights below.


Rising to a New Occasion in 2020

In 2020, nearly 150 households logged on for our first virtual Sunrise on the Mississippi, helping us raise over $88,000 towards our goal. Thank you! Last year, we Zoomed-in on soon-to-open RiverFirst projects โ€“ the Great Northern Greenway Overlook and Water Works โ€“ that are restoring a relationship between people and communities and the Mississippi River, told through a series of five new video stories. View the collection on Vimeo.

VOICES FROM THE UPPER RIVERFRONT
How RiverFirst Can Transform Human Life
Dorothy Bridges, Board Chair
 
Designing a North Minneapolis Connection to the River
Featuring Juxtaposition Arts

WATER WORKS AT MILL RUINS PARK
Water Works: Reviving a Centuries-Old Gathering Place
Featuring Damon Farber Landscape Architecture and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
 
Owamni by The Sioux Chef:
Centering Indigenous Food and Culture at Water Works

Featuring Sean Sherman and Dana Thompson

IMPACT
How Philanthropy Helps Advance Equity and Access
Featuring Superintendent Al Bangoura


More Past Event Speakers & Photos

From its start in 2016, Sunrise on the Mississippi has been a way for us to gather and celebrate the many ways that parks transform lives in Minneapolis and around the world. Our featured speakers have brought us innovative ideas and challenged us to build on the amazing legacy of parks we enjoy today to the benefit of others tomorrow.

  • Paul Huttner, Chief Meteorologist, Minnesota Public Radio – 2019
  • Lynn Ross, Reimagining the Civic Commons – 2018
  • James Edward Mills, The Joy Trip Project, author of “The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors” – 2017
  • Gil Penalosa, 8 80 Cities – 2015

2018 Sunrise Featuring Lynn Ross

YOUR DONATION helps ensure the parks in our city remain accessible, equitable and serving everyone.

Subscribe To Our Mailing List

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates.

You have Successfully Subscribed!