Beaver River is impaired. Found in northeastern Minnesota, Beaver River is a filter to and tributary of Lake Superior. The natural beauty would never have a visitor assume that a fundamental element of the ecosystem is suffering from man-made problems.

Privatization currently dominates the territory, leading to an non cooperative approach to land revitalization. A waste pond gouges the landscape where leftover mining scraps are kept until they are settled into a sludge. All the while seeping into the surrounding Beaver River.

In this project we proposed how to change Minnesota’s urban fabric through the lens of water bodies and property.

The project Healing lives as a new sense of community. Identifying and installing a hiking trail on public lands gives ownership back to the residents, reversing this status quo. With soil erosion mitigation and gradual reclamation of the tailings pond, a healing trail brings hope in beautiful moments of exploration along the river, providing experiences to cater to local residents and tourists alike.