In honor of World Water Week, Great River Greening is proud to announce a bold, multi-year effort, supported by Uponor and the Minnesota Twins, to protect Minnesota’s most vital resource: water. Together, they aim to restore critical lands, strengthen the vitality of our waterways, and build healthier, more resilient communities for generations to come.
By combining their strengths, this partnership unites Great River Greening, Minnesota’s leader in community-driven land restoration; Uponor, a GF Building Flow Solutions brand and global provider of sustainable and innovative flow solutions; and the Minnesota Twins, globally recognized for their leadership and commitment to community engagement and environmental stewardship.
As part of the initiative, Uponor and the Minnesota Twins will jointly contribute a total of $50,000 annually over the next three years to Great River Greening, investing a combined total of $150,000 in hands-on restoration projects that protect local watersheds and engage community members.
This collaboration also reflects the shared commitment of Great River Greening, Uponor and the Minnesota Twins to conserving Minnesota’s natural resources and empowering communities to care for the lands and waters that sustain them.
Critical work to be done through this initiative includes land restoration projects that increase biodiversity and improve habitats while protecting and enhancing the lakes, rivers and cherished outdoor spaces that so many Minnesotans enjoy. This multi-year commitment from Uponor and the Minnesota Twins will unlock investment and planning into five high-impact sites across the Twin Cities metro area:
- Creekside Park (Carver) and Valley Park (Mendota Heights), where stabilizing eroding streambanks will reduce sediment and pollution flowing into the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.
- Wood Lake Nature Center (Richfield) and Loeb Lake (Saint Paul), where restoring native shorelines will naturally filter runoff and protect important urban lakes.
- Bass Lake Preserve (St. Louis Park), where transforming degraded urban land into thriving native habitat will enhance water quality, boost flood resilience, and provide essential green space.
“What sustains us connects everything: our health, our communities, and our future,” said Kateri Routh, Executive Director of Great River Greening. “Thanks to the commitment of Uponor and the Minnesota Twins, we can expand our impact in protecting natural resources and restoring lands across the state.”
Since its founding in 1995, Great River Greening has restored more than 50,000 acres of Minnesota’s land and water resources, with a bold vision to restore another 50,000 acres in the next five years. The Healthy Waters Initiative builds this legacy by expanding restoration to critical sites that protect local watersheds, reduce pollution, and connect communities to local conservation efforts.
In addition to its ecological impact, this partnership will empower hundreds of community volunteers—including youth, families, and corporate groups—to participate in hands-on restoration events, strengthening community connections to the land and water.
“GF and Uponor are deeply committed to serving our communities, globally and here in Minnesota, by unleashing water’s great potential,” said John Reutter, president of GF Building Flow Solutions Americas. “The world is in constant flow, and our partnership with Great River Greening and the Minnesota Twins is a powerful step in protecting and restoring what connects us all: water.”
“As Minnesota’s team, the Twins are deeply committed to taking bold steps to preserve our environment – not just at Target Field, but throughout our state,” added Nancy O’Brien, Minnesota Twins senior vice president, community engagement. “Restoring streambanks and shorelines is essential to protect our beloved waterways. We are proud to stand alongside Great River Greening and Uponor in supporting these critical efforts – and to inspire others to join us in conserving what makes our state so special.”
