A substantial overhaul of Bossen Field Park begins soon. Work will start in the southern half of the park:
- Two softball fields will be built with improved drainage and natural turf.
- Approximately 60 spaces of parking will be added at the corner of 58th Street E and 31st Avenue S, next to the existing parking lot.
- A new playground will be built closer to the center of the park.
In August work will shift to the north end of the park:
- Four softball fields will be realigned in a “pinwheel” layout, so that the fields all face outward instead of facing each other.
- Two large open field areas will allow for more flexible park programming and recreational use.
- New pathways will provide better connections for park users traveling across the 37-acre park.
These improvements were identified after an extensive community engagement process that culminated in the Bossen Field Park Master Plan, which was approved by the Board of Commissioners last summer. Improvements at the northeast corner of the park and near the park building were also identified in the Master Plan and will proceed once additional funding is secured. Please view the Bossen Field Park Master Plan for a detailed account of all improvements planned at the park.
Integrating Racial Equity in Park Planning
The upcoming improvements mark one of the first tangible results of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) using a racial equity toolkit in a long-term planning effort. MPRB staff used racial equity tools to facilitate an inclusive planning process resulting in a design that will better meet the needs of both the surrounding neighbors and the region-wide users.
As a result, the Master Plan addressed the need for improved parking, pathways and picnic areas, and also created open, flexible field space on the east side of the park near high density housing.
“This project demonstrated the importance of integrating racial equity into planning projects and we look forward to applying what we learned to future projects,” said MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller.
MPRB District 5 Commissioner Steffanie Musich, who represents much of South Minneapolis, including the neighborhoods surrounding Bossen Field Park, added: “I’m proud of how this project is helping operationalize racial equity work at the Park Board and that the community engagement for the Bossen Field Park Master Plan resulted in a design that meets the needs of its diverse user groups. I am thrilled to see these improvements reinvigorate one of our busiest neighborhood parks.”
For more information, check out a recent article in Parks and Recreation Magazine that took an in-depth look at the MPRB’s approach to racial equity and the Bossen Field Park Master Plan.
Stay Informed
Subscribing to email updates is the best way to stay informed on this project. Subscribe by visiting minneapolisparks.org/subscribe and selecting “Bossen Field Master Plan” under “Planning Projects,” or by visiting the Bossen Field Master Plan project page and entering your email into the box under “Subscribe to Email Updates.”