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Lowry Avenue bridge lighting policy

The Lowry Avenue Bridge at the Lowry Avenue crossing of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis has multi-color lights to illuminate the arches. The bridge normally displays blue lights but is lit in other colors for certain holidays and events. Organizations may request special lighting by completing the application, to recognize a specific cause or commemorate or enhance a specific community event. The county does not grant requests of a private nature such as birthdays or personal anniversaries.

Submit your application at least 14 days before your event using either method:

  • Online or pdf application (preferred)
  • Letter with organization’s name, description and date of the event, and color of lighting requested

The county may waive the 14-day requirement when it’s not practical, such as a school or professional sports championship.

The county administrator reviews and makes a determination on all applications for special lighting and that decision is final. Special lighting for approved applications begins at 6 p.m. on the requested date and ends at 6 a.m. the following morning.

Video of Lowry Bridge lighting

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The county board has approved special lighting for holidays and other annual events. The county administrator has approved special lighting requests marked with an asterisk (*).

Upcoming lighting schedule

April 2021

  • April 28 – worker’s memorial day (red, white, blue)

May 2021

  • May TBD – Lynx opener
  • May 9 – Mother’s Day (pink)
  • May 31 – Memorial Day (red, white, blue)

June 2021

  • June 14 – Flag Day (red, white, blue)
  • June 20 – Father’s Day (light blue)

July 2021

  • July TBD – Twins Home Opener (blue, white)
  • July 4 – Independence Day (red, white, blue)
  • July 22 - FRAXA (Fragile X Syndrome) Research Foundation (turquoise*)

August 2021

  • August 1 – 35W Bridge Memorial (red, white, blue)

September 2021

  • September TBD – Vikings home opener (purple, gold*)
  • September 6 – Labor Day (red, white, blue)
  • September 11 – Patriot’s Day (red, white, blue)

October 2021

  • October TBD – Gophers homecoming game (maroon, gold)
  • October TBD – Timberwolves home opener (blue, white, green)
  • October 3 – Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters/National Fallen Firefighters Association (red)
  • October 11 – Indigenous Peoples Day (red, black, white, gold)
  • October 31 – Halloween (black, orange)

November 2021

  • November 1 - Color the World Orange, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) awareness (orange*)
  • November 11 – Veterans’ Day (red, white, blue)
  • November 25 – Thanksgiving (red, orange, brown)
  • November 28 – Hanukkah (blue, white)

December 2021

  • December 25 – Christmas (red, green)
  • December 26 – Kwanzaa (red, black, green)
  • December 31 – New Year’s Eve (red, white, blue)

Previous lighting calendar dates

January 2021

  • January 1 - New Years Day (blue, white)
  • January 19 - National COVID Memorial Tribute (amber*)

February 2021

  • February 5 - American Heart Association, National Wear Red Day (red*)
  • February 16 - To honor the victims of the Buffalo clinic shooting and all front-line health care workers and first responders who have been killed or injured in the line of duty in the State of Minnesota (purple*)
  • February 22 - National Eating Disorders Association (green, blue*)
  • February 26 – Recognizing Hennepin County natives and former Gopher and Vikings players and their contributions to the
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneer's victory in Super Bowl LV (gold, light blue, white)
  • February 27/28 – In recognition of Black History Month (red, black, green)

March 2021

  • March 6 - Amyloidosis Foundation (maroon)*
  • March 9 - Colon Cancer Coalition (blue)*
  • March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day (green)
  • March 21-26 – Pandemic One-Year Mark (blue and yellow*)
  • March 27– Midwest Endometriosis, Endometriosis Awareness Month (gold*)

April 2021

  • April 4 – Easter (pastel)
  • April 8 & 10 – Twins opener (red, blue)
  • April 13 - Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Hope International, International FND awareness day (orange, blue*)
  • April 17 - World Federation of Hemophilia (red*)

Hennepin County Lowry Avenue bridge lighting policy

Adopted December 3, 2013

Hennepin County re‐opened the Lowry Avenue bridge, located at the Lowry Avenue crossing of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in October 2012. The new bridge is equipped with multi‐color L.E.D. lighting options to illuminate the arches. This guideline is to address external requests for special lighting requests.

Criteria

Lighting of the Lowry Avenue bridge promotes the county, its civic institutions, state and federal holidays, and other public events of community significance. Hennepin County may accept community requests for special lighting to recognize a specific cause or to commemorate or enhance a specific event consistent with this purpose. Specifically excluded would be lighting to celebrate birthdays, personal anniversaries, or events that are primarily private in nature.

Application process

All requests must be submitted in writing (electronic submission preferred), along with contact information for the organization. Requests must also include a description of the event, date of the event, and color of lighting requested. Requests should be submitted at least 14 days before the date on which the bridge would be lit. The county administrator may waive this requirement in instances where 14 days' notice is not practical such as school or professional sports championships.

Approval process

Each request will be reviewed by county administration. The county administrator's decision is final.

Annual bridge lighting plan

The Lowry Avenue bridge annual lighting calendar lists normally scheduled events that do not require an external request. The bridge's default color will be blue. See the calendar for standard lighting events.

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