Every day, University of Minnesota students eat, sleep and study with a view of the heart of one of the largest cities in the country, but most of us don’t make it into downtown Minneapolis very often.
Perhaps due to concerns about crime or general unfamiliarity, most students confine themselves to on-campus living, leaving downtown to serve little purpose other than as a backdrop for scenic photographs.
But ignoring downtown means leaving huge untapped potential for social, cultural and economic experiences.
Adam Duininck, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and a University of Minnesota alumnus, said many other universities don’t have access to an urban area as unique as downtown Minneapolis.
“What attracted me most to a campus like the U is its proximity to downtown,” Duininck said. “That’s a big differentiator. Most of the Big 10 universities are in small towns like Madison, at least not in areas with big downtowns like ours, vibrant downtowns.”
But for many residents and students, downtown Minneapolis immediately conjures up very negative connotations: crime.
Brian Weber, who lives in downtown Minneapolis and moved to the Twin Cities in 2022, said he appreciates the variety of public spaces downtown, including Nicollet Mall and Government Plaza.
“There are a lot of people out there doing drugs and other shady stuff,” Weber said. “They’re unpredictable, but you just have to make sure you don’t walk past them.”
Weber’s concerns mirror those of many local residents who avoid downtown because of assumptions and generalizations about crime. In the end, Weber and thousands of others choose to spend their time downtown, and when they consider the actual crime rate, simple safety measures, and potential benefits of living downtown, most of their concerns melt away.
Duininck said the actual statistics on crime in downtown Minneapolis show it’s much safer than many people think and continues to improve with each passing month.
“We’re watching these statistics and reports very closely,” Duininck said. “Crime in the first quarter of 2024 is down between 15 and 20 percent depending on the sector.”
Duininck said the decline in crime coincides with an increased law enforcement presence downtown in recent years.
“Our city has been through some tough times over the last few years,” Duininck said, “but I think we’ve seen great efforts from other agencies that oversee safety, like the Minneapolis Police Department and the Metro Transit Police. Our Downtown Improvement District is also active in the public safety space.”
Twin Cities residents also chime in on the effectiveness of law enforcement and simply paying attention to their surroundings while downtown.
Darcy Frank, a volunteer at a Jehovah’s Witnesses church downtown, spends her time exploring the streets and overpasses of Minneapolis with her coworkers.
“I definitely don’t want to walk around alone,” Frank says, “but we usually walk in pairs so I’m not too worried.”
Similarly, Weber protects her personal safety by avoiding certain parts of the light rail line when traveling downtown.
“If you’re scared of downtown Minneapolis, just don’t get off at Franklin or Lake station and you’ll have nothing to be scared of,” Weber said.
Downtown Minneapolis has a number of attractions that draw people from nearby universities to countries abroad.
For many people, including Frank, Weber and myself, the best part of Downtown is its simple beauty, whether it be the soothing sounds of the ornate fountains at Government Plaza and Nicollet Avenue, the incredible architecture of places like the Crystal Court at the IDS Center, the extensive skyway network or the diversity of the thousands of people who congregate in one place.
These unique locations offer numerous opportunities for those seeking entertainment and cultural experiences. Downtown Minneapolis has long been a hub for sporting events and large concerts, and its popularity continues to grow.
“Our event attendance has skyrocketed,” Duininck said, “with more than nine million guests attending concerts, sporting events and other conventions and conferences. Last year, hotel occupancy rates reached their highest level since 2019, and public transport ridership was at an all-time high.”
Downtown Minneapolis is also a great place for a quick getaway, and Duininck said some of his best memories from college were visiting the bars, restaurants and theaters downtown.
The solution to downtown Minneapolis’ problems is two-fold. It’s not just the responsibility of organizations like the Minneapolis Urban Council, which brings together businesses and residents to improve the downtown area through dynamic events and communication. We can all contribute to improving the situation by simply taking advantage of the vast opportunities that the downtown area already has.
“A vibrant street is a safe street, so the more people there are downtown, the safer people feel,” Duininck said.
Spending time downtown isn’t just a rewarding experience, it sparks a feedback loop that continually improves the city for all of us.
