Nicollet Mall, Pedestrian and transit corridor in downtown Minneapolis, United States
Nicollet Mall is a pedestrian zone in downtown Minneapolis that runs twelve blocks and links shops, restaurants and landscaped spaces. The passage combines wide sidewalks with dedicated bus lanes and numerous public artworks along the route.
The street opened as the first transit mall in the United States in 1967, fundamentally changing its previous automobile traffic. A major renovation began in 2015, bringing contemporary furnishings and new tree rows into the district.
The boulevard takes its name from Joseph Nicollet, a French cartographer who explored the upper Mississippi in the early 19th century. Visitors today encounter a bronze statue of Mary Richards along the promenade, recalling a popular television series from the seventies and serving as a common meeting spot.
The promenade suits walking at any time of day and allows free pedestrian movement between the business districts. Public buses travel through the center of the route and share the space with pedestrians without direct contact.
Art installations from different periods alternate along the entire route, including modern sculptures and interactive water features. The lighting adjusts automatically in the evening and changes the mood of the public space with gentle color transitions.
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