September 2024 — A temporary “Turtle X-ing” sign stands beside a paved trail managed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, reminding cyclists and pedestrians to slow down for turtles crossing the path. Each spring and summer, snapping and painted turtles migrate between nearby lakes and wetlands to lay eggs in sandy soil along the city’s parkways. These seasonal signs are part of Minneapolis’s broader effort to balance recreation with urban wildlife protection, especially around the Chain of Lakes and Minnehaha Creek trail systems.