4,000-square-foot “Net Zero” energy building offers beautiful river views and top-of-the-line creative equipment and classes for youth in new 9-acre riverfront park
Posted on 12 May, 2025
Cutting the ribbon at The River Hub at Graco Park
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, community members gathered to commemorate the opening of The River Hub at Graco Park, a new park building along the Northeast Minneapolis riverfront.
The River Hub is designed as a place for people to enjoy and appreciate the Mississippi River, with opportunities for environmental education, art and technology programs, and events supporting the Northeast community. Building features include a Spark’d Studios location, the Riverview Room, an event space with floor-to-ceiling doors opening toward the Mississippi River, the Idea Hub, a conference room that can accommodate up to eight people, a welcome lobby, and public restrooms.
“I’m thrilled to open a building that supports so many aspects of our core mission and values,” said Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Superintendent Al Bangoura. “It supports our climate goals with clean energy generation and energy conservation, reaches youth with incredible opportunities through Spark’d Studios, improves riverfront recreation, and it was made possible by working with a generous coalition of partners, including Graco and numerous public agencies.”
The River Hub at Graco Park is considered “Net Zero” energy, which is an ultra-low energy structure that consumes only as much power as can be generated onsite by clean, renewable resources. This is achieved through an energy efficient design, rooftop solar panels, and geothermal energy system. All windows have a reflective coating to reduce bird-glass collisions in the Mississippi Flyway.
The building is located at 810 Sibley St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. Hours are Wednesday-Friday, 3-8:30 pm; Saturday-Sunday, 12-6 pm.
In 2018, the MPRB reached a series of agreements with Graco Inc. that resulted in Graco Park. The agreements allowed the park to be constructed much earlier than it could have through traditional park funding mechanisms.
“Graco Park isn’t just a beautiful new feature along the river, it’s a symbol of what’s possible when businesses and communities come together,” said David Lowe, Chief Financial Officer at Graco. “The park represents a shared vision to create spaces that will inspire future generations of families, neighbors and friends. We’re proud to contribute to this space and call this area home for nearly 100 years.”
Graco Park opened in September 2024. The nine-acre park is located just north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge, between Boom Island Park and Graco Inc. headquarters. It includes Hall’s Island, which was restored in 2018, plus new trails and walkways, a river landing, large, artistic “Timber Markers” that pay homage to the site’s storied logging history, picnic tables, and gathering spaces surrounded by hundreds of new trees and plants.
Spark’d Studio at Graco Park
Spark’d Studios at Graco Park
Spark’d Studios are new spaces in Minneapolis park buildings that help young people build creative skills and career readiness through free multimedia arts programs, access to technology, and mentorship from creative professionals. The River Hub hosts the fourth of six planned Spark’d Studios locations.
Spark’d Studios at Graco Park offers an exciting array of top-of-the-line creative equipment that youth can use for free:
- Recording booth for audio projects and music production
- Laser cutter and engraver
- 3D printer
- Video and photography equipment
- Mac laptop and desktop computers with creative design software
- Gaming station for multi-player tournaments
- Crafting area for hands-on STEAM and mixed media projects
Follow Spark’d Studios on Instagram or YouTube to learn about upcoming programs and view youth-directed projects!
“This park, a work in progress for the last 10 years, creates an uninterrupted trail along the Mississippi, and will be the hot spot for frisbee throwers and sunbathers all throughout the summer,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “What separates Minneapolis from everywhere else is our beautiful riverfront, and Graco Park highlights it in a magnificent way. I remember working on this project 10 years ago—and working together, we all made it happen.”
Boom Island Trail Connection
Plymouth Avenue Bridge is closed this summer so that workers can safely build an important Northeast Minneapolis riverfront trail connection. The City of Minneapolis will perform necessary repairs to the Plymouth Avenue Bridge while it’s closed, reducing future bridge closures.
This new trail connection under Plymouth Avenue will link Graco Park and Boom Island Park. When it’s complete, people will be able to travel on a completely off-road riverside trail that connects Sheridan Memorial Park, Graco Park, Boom Island Park and Nicollet Island along 1.5 miles of scenic Northeast Minneapolis riverfront.
The street crossing to Boom Island Park at the foot of the bridge will also receive much-needed safety upgrades. A Rapid Flashing Beacon will be installed to alert drivers to people crossing Plymouth Avenue and sidewalk bump-outs will narrow the distance to cross the road.
In addition, a new trail bridge will be built over the Boom Island Marina and trails will be realigned leading up to the underpass. The marina is closed in 2025 and will reopen for the 2026 season.
Northeast Trail Connection Fact Sheet
The Scherer Bros Lumber Co. property in June 2010
Site History
2010: The MPRB purchased the 11-acre riverfront site from Scherer Bros Lumber Co. The former lumberyard was cleaned up and industrial buildings and asphalt were replaced with grass over the next few years.
2016: The Mississippi East Bank Trail was paved through the site. This riverfront trail extension connects Boom Island Park, Graco Park and Sheridan Memorial Park before terminating at the BNSF railroad bridge, in the 1600 block of Marshall Street NE.
2017-18: A project restored Hall’s Island, which was eliminated by lumber yard expansion in the 1960s, and created a new gravel river beach.
2018: The MPRB and Graco Inc. reached several agreements that resulted in Graco Park.
2021: MPRB staff collected feedback from the community, researched opportunities and constraints at the site and created a series of Graco Park design concepts for public feedback.
April 2022: The final park concept was approved by MPRB Commissioners after a public hearing.
September 2022: Grading and earthwork began to prepare site for park construction.
August 2023: A groundbreaking ceremony commemorated the beginning of park construction.
September 2024: The outdoor elements of the park opened to the public.
Winter 2024-25: Construction began on a trail underpass connecting Graco Park and Boom Island Park.
April 2025: The River Hub at Graco Park opens.
Fall 2025: A trail underpass connecting Graco Park and Boom Island Park is scheduled to open.