By Jamie O’Day and Laura Huberty
The government has decided to reroute Hwy. 55 to make traveling more convenient. The Hwy. would start at 46 St. and would travel to Hwy. 62, a 4 lane highway with shoulders, turn lanes, tunnels, and berms. It would be considered the best way for traveling from the downtown Mpls. area to the Airport and to the Mall Of America. It will be 3.5 minutes faster than the present route.
The land and the homes that they must tear down involves the Minnehaha park and surrounding neighborhood. 40 years ago this land belonged to the Federal Mines. The Government decided to preserve it, hoping that someday they would build a freeway right along the river wall. That day has now come.
The citizens were called together as a group and were given 120 different options. None of the options included the Minnehaha area being destroyed.
Earthfirsters and many other concerned individuals have been fighting to prevent this from happening. They have led and conducted several rallies, sit-ins, hunger strikes and marches but still no positive reaction. The Earthfirsters got involved when they received a call for help from one couple who refused to leave their home. The Earthfirsters set up camp in their front yard. Unfortunately all their efforts have been ignored.
People have been fighting the destruction of Hiawatha for years. Not only have residents’ homes been sacrificed but also the sacred sites of the Mendota Mdewakaton Dakota community have been jeopardized. By giving up an extra 3.5 minutes of your time you would be saving over 100 mature oak trees, some of which are over 200 years old. The famous Minnehaha Falls would continue to flourish. Not to mention the preservation of Camp Coldwater Springs and the sacred sites of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota community.