Protect the Rice Creek Wildlife Corridor in Northern Ramsey County

The Rice Creek trail corridor in northern Ramsey County is a local natural treasure. Frequently visited by birdwatchers, hikers, and wildlife enthusiasts across the Twin Cities, it gives birds and other wildlife a peaceful place to feed, rest, and raise their young. But right now, this vital space faces a serious threat.

A massive industrial business park, called Hillview, nearly the size of 17 football fields, has been proposed on 62 acres within the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP), with access off County Rd. I, on the Arden Hills and Shoreview border. This site directly borders the Rice Creek trails and county parkland. (Note that it is separate from the Rice Creek Commons development to the southwest.)

Join our group, STOMP, in advocating for a responsible alternative that respects the neighborhood and protects the parkland, open space, natural resources, and wildlife.

Hillview, this proposed huge industrial enterprise on TCAAP’s site threatens Rice Creek, local wildlife corridors, and neighboring parks. The area serves as critical habitat for notable species, including one of the largest Osprey recolonizations in the Midwest (with about 9 active nests), Bald Eagles, Kestrels, the threatened Ghost Tiger Beetle, (see picture below) Henslow’s Sparrow, and Blanding’s Turtles.

To protect the neighborhood, creek, parkland, and wildlife from heavy traffic and noise and light pollution, neighbors in Shoreview’s Shamrock Park neighborhood formed STOMP (Shamrock Together Opposing Mega-industrial Project). STOMP is organizing residents, trail users, and conservation advocates to demand: 

• interagency coordination, 
• a pause in the proposed development, and 
• a significant reduction in the development’s size. 

We are advocating for a responsible alternative that respects the neighborhood and protects the parkland, open space, natural resources and wildlife.

The proposal has not been approved by the City of Arden Hills and is undergoing a mandatory Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Once environmental reviews wrap up, the developer must apply for city land use approvals and agency permits. Public engagement opportunities and the draft EIS release are anticipated this fall or winter.

How you can help: Once a natural wildlife corridor is destroyed, it’s gone for good. You can help protect the Rice Creek corridor by:

• Visiting stompcollective.com to learn more about the project and what’s at stake.

• Signing up for email updates, joining our Facebook group to stay up to date, or donating to our efforts.

• Attending public meetings, submitting comments and reaching out to local decision-makers to demand a pause on the development, better interagency collaboration, a reduced development size, rigorous environmental protections, and a responsible alternative that preserve the area.

• Spreading the word to fellow birders, park users, and neighbors.

Alyssa Kruzel is a STOMP member. 

Photo: Current uses of the Former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) by the City of Arden Hills via Arden Hills City website, https://www.cityofardenhills.org/1268/Hillview-Business-Park