Help plan and design Graco Park, new riverfront park project in Northeast Minneapolis

Posted on 9 June, 2021

A new stage of Northeast Minneapolis riverfront park development begins this summer! The new project includes:

  • A new and improved park, called Graco Park on a parcel of riverfront land north of Plymouth Avenue Bridge that currently hosts a section of Mississippi East Bank Trail and a gravel beach facing Hall’s Island.
  • Design and construction of a building supporting Graco Park on the former Parcel D site (now referred to as Lot 2) along Sibley Street NE.
    • See below for information on submitting a Letter of Interest for being a tenant, hosting programs, or both in the new building.
  • Improved trail connections to Boom Island Park and a pedestrian bridge connecting to Hall’s Island.

The project will be based on a site concept plan approved by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioners and a series of agreements reached with Graco Inc. in 2018.

Get Involved

The MPRB invites anyone interested in the Graco Park project to give feedback that will be used to develop park and building concepts. The first of three planned phases of engagement in 2021 just launched. There are multiple ways to get involved:

Online Survey and Resources: Visit the project engagement page to find maps and images with information about the project and prompts to provide input. All submitted ideas and comments will be documented and considered as designs for the project are developed. This survey will be open through July 7, 2021.

In-Person Event: Share your thoughts in person at Graco Park on Saturday, June 12, 1-3 pm. Look for the MPRB tent and table!

Virtual Conversation: Join MPRB staff and community members for an online conversation about the project on Wednesday, June 23, 4:30-6 pm. Use the Zoom link below to join:

Graco Park Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 928 8232 1476
Passcode: 303288

Down the Road: The first phase of engagement wraps up in July. Project staff will use feedback collected to create multiple park and building design concepts and share them in August for another round of feedback with another survey and additional in-person events. Then, in the fall, a single, preferred concept will be shared for a third round of engagement.

Visit the Graco Park and Lot 2 project page and enter your email address into the box under “Subscribe to Email Updates” to stay informed about this project.

Call for Letters of Interest in Graco Park Building

The MPRB is soliciting letters of interest (LOI) from interested parties, organizations, businesses, or proprietors that are interested in being a tenant, hosting programs, or both in a new proposed MPRB building in Graco Park. As part of the new Graco Park design process, there is also an opportunity for a future separate commercial space to be developed on the site adjacent to the Park Board building with the intention of the building to support operations of a park-supportive vendor. This call for letters of interest is for both opportunities. Interested parties should review the submission guidelines and submit a letter of interested by July 23, 2021.

The new park-owned and operated building will be approximately 4,000 square feet comprised of a combination of shared or independent office space, community meeting rooms, public restrooms, and an open programmable gallery-like hall. The design and configuration of the future commercial building may change as a result of the design process.

Letter of Interest Submission Guidelines

Schedule and Deadlines

Release of solicitation for proposals: June 7, 2021
Questions or requests for clarifications due July 7, 2021
Responses to questions or requests for clarifications posted July 10, 2021
Proposals due 5 pm CST, July 23
Interviews, if required early August 2021

Questions regarding this request shall be directed VIA EMAIL ONLY to:
Carrie Christensen, Senior Planner
cchristensen@minneapolisparks.org