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Hills, bluffs, and a 2-inch emergency.

Eden Prairie snow plowing for Twin Cities homes and commercial lots on the Minnesota River’s north bank.

John R. Cummins Farmhouse, Silverness Park, Eden Prairie
John R. Cummins Farmhouse, Silverness Park, Eden Prairie. Photo: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

01 The trigger

Two inches, and the street is not a parking lot.

Eden Prairie’s snow emergency is in effect as soon as accumulation reaches 2 inches. The city prepares when the forecast says 2 inches or more.

Until city streets are plowed curb-to-curb, keep cars off them. It is illegal to place snow on a public roadway. The city plows city streets except state highways, county roads, and private HOA streets — that last category is why a cul-de-sac inside an association can still be buried after the public route is clean. Read the snow removal page before you assume the city is coming down your lane.

Residents are asked to clear sidewalks in front of their homes and to shovel around hydrants and mailboxes. Park Maintenance already keeps many city sidewalks and trails open. The driveway and the commercial lot are not on that list.

02 The ground

Prairie, river bluffs, and 170 miles of trail.

Eden Prairie is a second-ring southwest Hennepin suburb on the north bank of the Minnesota River, about 12 miles from downtown Minneapolis. Census 2020: 64,198 people on 32.52 square miles of land, density 1,973.9 — open compared with Minneapolis, tight enough that cul-de-sacs and lake loops still trap a plow.

Wikipedia describes rolling hills and Minnesota River bluffs; prairie and mixed deciduous forest; lakes including Staring, Riley, Bryant, and Round; Purgatory Creek; 2,250 acres of parks and 1,300 acres of open space; and more than 170 miles of multi-use trails. The commercial side is Eden Prairie Center, I-494, and Flying Cloud Airport. City crews report 233 miles of City streets plus arterial sidewalks and trails. County and state take the highways.

We cite the metro snowfall normal — 51.2 inches at MSP, 1991–2020, station USW00014922 — not an Eden Prairie gauge. Monthly MSP normals run heaviest in December (11.4 in) and January (11.0 in). Source: NOAA NCEI and the Minnesota DNR.

03 What we plow here

Large-lot drives, HOA lanes, I-494 lots.

Plow MN is licensed and insured. In Eden Prairie we plow residential driveways and walkways and commercial lots, seasonal or per-plow. Hills, bluff streets, and cul-de-sacs are why a private crew still matters after the city’s 2-inch emergency has opened the public route. We do not plow state highways, county roads, or the city’s 233 miles. We plow the private surface the city will not touch.

04 Eden Prairie questions

Two inches, HOAs, and hydrants.

When does Eden Prairie’s snow emergency start?

As soon as accumulation reaches 2 inches. The city prepares when the forecast is 2 inches or more. During the emergency, do not park on City streets until they are plowed curb-to-curb. Details are on the snow removal page.

Does the city plow my HOA street or my driveway?

No. Eden Prairie plows city streets except state highways, county roads, and private HOA streets. The driveway, the walk, and a private HOA lane stay with the owner or the association. That is the work we quote.

How many miles of city street are we talking about?

The city reports 233 miles of City streets, plus arterial sidewalks and trails. County and state crews take the highways. Rolling hills, Minnesota River bluffs, lakes, and cul-de-sacs sit on those 233 miles.

Do I have to clear the sidewalk in front of my house?

Residents are asked to clear sidewalks in front of their homes and to shovel around hydrants and mailboxes. Park Maintenance keeps many city sidewalks and trails free of snow. It is also illegal to place snow on a public roadway — see the seasonal concerns FAQ.

Is Eden Prairie in Hennepin County?

Yes. It is a second-ring southwest suburb on the north bank of the Minnesota River, about 12 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis. Census 2020: 64,198 people, 32.52 square miles of land, density 1,973.9.

Why don’t you list an Eden Prairie snowfall total?

We do not have an NCEI station normal for the city. The Twin Cities figure we use is 51.2 inches at MSP (1991–2020, USW00014922), the same number the Minnesota DNR publishes for the metro. Typical season at that station is October through April.

Book a plow in Eden Prairie.

Tell us the property. We send the quote.

Or call (612) 200-2256.

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