The Minneapolis Downtown Council works to preserve and enhance a vital and attractive downtown for the people who invest, work, shop, visit and live in Minneapolis. Founded in 1955 and one of the oldest central business district associations in the nation, the Minneapolis Downtown Council produces such cherished Minneapolis events as the Aquatennial and Holidazzle Parade. From the early planning of the skyway system and the creation of Nicollet Mall, to the modern zoning code of todays downtown, our business association has been an active collaborator with Minneapolis city officials and staff to maintain a strong economy in the Central Business District. We often describe downtown as an economic engine with eight high-compression cylinders: Offices, Employment, Retail, Residential, Entertainment, Conventions, Visitors, and Tourism. Minneapolis provides the commercial, social, and cultural pulse of our region. The Minneapolis Downtown Council is funded by voluntary membership dues, not tax dollars. Dues are based on the type and size of an organization. Were the land of 10, 000 lakes, and 22 are within our city limits. Minneapolis has more than 170 parks, and its estimated that everyone lives within 6 blocks of one. We have more than 63 miles of off-street commuter trails and 37 miles of bike lanes on city streets. Mens Fitness says were the most athletic town in the nation. And downtown celebrates 150 days of events per year, bringing 2.5 million people to our central business district.