Sheridan Memorial Park, one of the newest parks in the Minneapolis park system, lies along the east side of the Mississippi River just north of the Broadway Bridge. It is the only named park in the Sheridan neighborhood. Currently Sheridan Memorial Park is undeveloped; its riverbank has only recently been stabilized, the uplands graded and seeded to lawn, and 100 trees planted. The concept plan for the park envisions trails that are part of a regional system, a large central green, a picnic area with restrooms and shelters, a playground, and a volleyball court. A memorial to veterans is also a key component of the plan.
Local veterans have long sought a site along the river for a memorial to remember Minnesotans serving in the nation’s wars. Over the last five years, along with the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization (SNO), they have worked tirelessly to raise funds and help develop plans for the memorial in Sheridan Memorial Park.
Project Phase: Design Development and preparation of construction documents.
Closures of Park Facilities: Construction of the memorial is anticipated for the fall of 2012 and spring of 2013.No existing facilities will be impacted by construction.
Timeline
Design Development and Construction documents – winter and spring 2012
Artist selection –spring 2012 (see Updates below)
Site construction bidding – summer 2012
Construction – fall 2012
Completion of plaza – November 11, 2012
Fabrication and installation of sculpture and markers – late 2012, early 2013
May 2012: Study report submitted for the May 2 Planning Committee of the Board regarding updates to the Sheridan Memorial Park and the Veterans Memorial
April 2012: A Request for Qualifications as a Call for Artists– Veterans Memorial at Sheridan Memorial Park was issued April 17 and is due May 29 at 10:00 a.m. It was modified by Addendum #1 on April 25, 2012. An artist will be selected for a $155,000 commission to create, fabricate, and install a central sculpture and 10 markers for the memorial. On April 26, responses to questions received by 4/25 were posted.
February 2012: Plans for the veterans memorial will be presented for public review at an open house February 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the board room of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board headquarters building, 2117 W River Road.
The memorial will be located at the south end of the park, with an overlook at the river’s edge. It will honor all military veterans from the nine wars in which Minnesotans served. Plans call for a central sculpture on a circular plaza surrounded by five concentric rings made up of lawn, a perimeter walk, benches and markers, and native grasses respectively. Closely planted trees will comprise the outermost ring. The nine markers along one of the outer concentric rings will each bear a description of one of the nine wars. A tenth “empty” marker will represent the precarious nature of peace.
January 2011: Design and fabrication of the markers are added to the RFQ.
November 2011: The decision is made to prepare a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to local artists for the design and fabrication of the central sculpture. A jury will select artists for interviews and award the $75,000 commission.
A local military historian and magazine editor is hired to research and write the text for the nine markers.
October 2011: Revised plans for the memorial are presented to the board of the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization. The memorial is tucked into the south end of the park; the design simplified to ease long-term maintenance.
August 2011: Revised plans for the layout of the park are presented to the board of the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization. Recreational development has been shifted to the north end of the park and the veterans memorial to the south, creating a large central lawn contained by paths.
June 2010: Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization (SNO), individual veterans, and direct state bond allocations from the state legislature, design work has begun. The most recent state allocation of $100,000, added to the $300,000 granted in 2008 and the SNO and veterans’ contributions, makes a total of nearly $500,000, enough to design and construct the main portion of the veterans memorial. This will include a formal space with gardens, trees, a pool and flagpole, all created to provide a space conducive to reflection.
Open House – February 21, 2012, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., MPRB HQ, 2117 W River Road
Meetings with neighborhood groups and veterans – ongoing
Plans for the park were developed in 2006 through a year-long collaboration among the MPRB, SNO, the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO), elected officials, the Above the Falls Citizen Advisory Committee, neighborhood residents, and veterans.
Board Agendas
June 16, 2010 – Regular Meeting (Page 2, Item 2.3) – Professional Services for Park Development
Aug. 19, 2009 – Regular Meeting (Page 3, Item 2.6) – Site Improvements
