Masjid An-nur is the first Twin Cities Eco-Mosque.
Our redesigned landscape transformed Masjid An-Nur into an “Eco-Mosque” focused on sustainability and environmental justice. A pair of MWMO Stewardship Fund Grants are funding design and construction of raingardens that will help solve persistent drainage problems at the North Minneapolis mosque and open up new opportunities for engaging the community around environmental issues.
As heavy rains become more common in Minneapolis, properties may have new challenges managing the water. Masjid An-Nur is a North Minneapolis-based mosque experiencing just this issue. The mosque is situated at a low point of the property, and rains over the last few years have caused flooding of one of the main entrances, impacting the interior of the building as well as the site. Visitors of the mosque have tried a number of do-it-yourself improvements, but have not been able to resolve the issue.
With support from an MWMO Planning Grant in fall 2018, the mosque hired landscape architects to analyze the site and develop a plan for improvements that will manage the stormwater more holistically. In addition to managing the water, the mosque saw the project as an opportunity to transform the space to promote health and wellness, peace, and a more informed and engaged community around environmental justice. They hope to become the first “Eco-Mosque” in the Twin Cities region and serve as a model for other property owners as well as the broader Muslim community. via MWMO