Project Location

North Minneapolis Riverfront between 33rd Avenue N and approximately 39th Avenue N

Project Manager

Julie Aldrich
Phone: 612-499-9083
Email: jaldrich@minneapolisparks.org

Project Contact

Emma Pachuta
Phone: 612-499-3711
Email: epachuta@minneapolisparks.org

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Language Resources

Correo Electrónico: preguntas@minneapolisparks.org
Email: suaalo@minneapolisparks.org

Key Documents

Status

Current Phase: Construction

What's New

Community Meeting on Upper Harbor redevelopment scheduled March 26

Join City of Minneapolis and development team partners on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 5:30-7:30 pm at Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center, 2001 Plymouth Ave. N

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board officially acquires land for new regional park at Upper Harbor site

The City of Minneapolis transferred the land to the MPRB on Nov. 22, 2023, following years of planning in partnership with the City

Upper Harbor Project Open House scheduled December 13, 4-6 pm

Join project partners at Glass House, 145 Holden St. N, for a brief presentation and Q&A

Timeline

May 21, 2020: Several draft park concepts released
Sept. 7, 2021: Release of single draft park concept for 45-day public comment period
Oct. 21, 2021: 45-day public comment period closes
Late 2021: Public hearing and consideration of final concept approval by Park Commissioners
2022: Site clearing, demolition and grading
2023-24: Park and parkway construction

History

The Upper Harbor Terminal (UHT) site was part of the huge area that was taken from the Dakota people by the U.S. Government through the 1851 treaties at Traverse des Sioux and Mendota. A Native American Context Statement and Reconnaissance Level Survey Supplement report was completed in 2016 for the City. This study indicated that a Native American trail along the River went through or past the UHT site; no other known site connections to Native American history were highlighted in the report.

Uses prior to development of the site as a barge terminal included lumber yards and mills and, later, commercial gardens. The portion of the site between Washington Avenue and I-94 had included some homes and small commercial/industrial structures before being acquired and cleared by the Minnesota Department of Transportation for construction of I-94. The cleared parcels subsequently were conveyed to the City as excess highway right-of-way and added to the UHT site.

Between 1968 and 1987, the Upper Harbor Terminal site was developed as an inter-modal barge shipping terminal located at almost the head of commercial navigation on the Mississippi River. The barge terminal remained in operation until the end of 2014 when barging ceased due to the planned closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock in spring of 2015. The site operation then shifted to interim use to store commodities that are trucked to and from the site.

A historical survey that was completed in 2007 determined that the UHT site is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places as part of a much larger potential historic district that encompasses the larger Upper Mississippi Harbor all the way down to the central riverfront. The terminal also is eligible for listing as a local Minneapolis landmark. A subsequent 2017 study found that the UHT site alone (i.e., not part of a much larger district) is not eligible for National Register designation, but is eligible for local designation.

The site’s historic significance relates not to its architectural beauty or significance (although its concrete storage domes are architecturally and structurally unique), but to the role the site played relative to the City of Minneapolis’ decades-long effort to have two new river locks built that would make Minneapolis, not St. Paul, the head of navigation on the Mississippi River.

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Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming meetings scheduled at this time.

Community Engagement

UHT Park CAC Meetings

Previous Meetings

CAC Meeting #17: Final Park Recommendations (Part 2)
Meeting date: Thursday, May 6th, 2021

Agenda
Presentation
Final Meeting Notes

 

CAC Meeting #16: Final Park Recommendations (Part 1)
Meeting date: Tuesday, March 16th, 2021

Meeting Agenda
Meeting Presentation
Draft Recommendations
Meeting Notes

 

CAC Meeting #15: Draft Park Recommendations (continued)
CAC members will have an open discussion to finalize recommendations to the City on the UHT development proposal.
Meeting date: Monday, January 11th, 2021

Meeting Agenda
CAC Q&A Meeting Responses
Final CAC Development Recommendations
Final CAC Development Recommendations with Comments

 

CAC Meeting #14: Draft Park Recommendations
An open discussion about how the park development project should and can address systemic racism
Meeting date: Thursday, December 17th, 2020

Meeting Agenda
Development Overview Presentation
MPRB CAC Potential Development Recommendations
CAC #14 Meeting Notes
CAC Questions from Meeting

 

CAC Meeting #13: The Park and Systemic Racism Discussion
Participate in an open discussion about how the park development project should and can address systemic racism
Meeting date: Tuesday, September 15th, 2020

Meeting Agenda
How to Implement Operations Summary
How to Implement Operations Full Document DRAFT
Meeting Notes

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #12: Park  Development Interaction
Conversation on Systemic Racism has moved to September 15th. Information will be posted soon.
Meeting date: Thursday, August 27th, 2020

Meeting Notes – DRAFT
Agenda
Meeting Packet
Meeting Presentation
Park Concept Questions

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #11
Meeting date: Thursday, June 18th, 2020

Meeting Notes

 

Previous Community Advisory Committee meeting #11 dates were scheduled on May 28th and June 11th and were postponed until June 18th

Learn how the park at the Upper Harbor Terminal and other park areas in Minneapolis can re-strengthen the kinship between people and land.   

At the May 28th meeting Dakota community members will share their insights on the evolving park at the Upper Harbor Terminal.  The community members are helping the team weave language, history, and culture into the park and providing important perspective on the relationships between people, the land, and water.  Given the social distancing requirements, the Dakota community members will share a brief film and some of their experiences and ideas.  There will be an opportunity to ask questions and talk during the meeting.

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #10
Meeting date: Thursday, May 21st, 2020

Agenda
Meeting Notes

At the May 21st meeting the project team will present three draft park concepts and seek questions and initial input. The release of the draft concepts will begin a larger engagement effort, including online surveys, focused phone surveys, and more. A presentation of the draft concepts will remain online and the team will examine the concepts more closely in June CAC meeting(s).

All meetings are currently virtual via online meeting platform Zoom in order to comply with social distancing requirements. Please read the instructions and follow the link posted below to participate.  Watch for future updates in the case that meetings are rescheduled.

The public is invited to participate in all CAC meetings. MPRB 17-member Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is working with the MPRB on the next phase of Upper Harbor park planning, including coordinating with the City and developer on infrastructure and private developments that will interact with the future park areas on site.

For questions, contact Kate Lamers, klamers@minneapolisparks.org, 612-499-0260

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #9
Meeting date: Wednesday, April 29th, 2020

Agenda
Presentation
Meeting Notes

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is hosting the next Upper Harbor Terminal Site Park Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting virtually via online meeting platform Zoom on Wednesday, April 29, 6-8 pm, Please read the instructions and follow the link posted below to participate.

Watch for future notices to help engagement run smoothly as we transition to digital meetings to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Additional CAC meetings are also scheduled via Zoom, 6-8 pm on May 14 and May 28.

New materials will not be presented at the April 29 meeting, other than some basic updates on engagement strategies to adjust to social distancing requirements.  The primary goal of the meeting is to allow CAC members and the public to ask questions and discuss topics they feel are important.

The public is invited to participate in all CAC meetings.  MPRB 17-member Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is working with the MPRB on the next phase of Upper Harbor park planning, including coordinating with the City and developer on infrastructure and private developments that will interact with the future park areas on site.

For questions, contact Kate Lamers, klamers@minneapolisparks.org, 612-499-0260

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #8
Meeting date: Thursday, February 13th, 2020

Agenda
Meeting Materials: Northside Coded Comments
Presentation
Presentation 2
Presentation- MPRB Public Art
CAC #8 Minutes

At the February CAC meeting Juxtaposition Arts (JXTA) will lead a discussion on key emerging storylines from the Northside and a spectrum of ways that public art can be embedded in the park. JXTA is leading a public master planning effort for the park project.  The public and families are invited to participate in both dinner and meeting.

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #7
Meeting date: Monday, January 13th, 2020

Agenda
Meeting Minutes
Meeting Materials: Space Use Inventory
Meeting Materials: Spaces at Upper Harbor Terminal
Meeting Materials: Activities
Meeting Materials: Structure Matrix
Meeting Materials: Existing Structures Info
Meeting Materials: Adaptive Reuse
Meeting Materials: Existing Site
Meeting Materials: Existing Site Context
Meeting Materials: Context
Meeting Materials: Stormwater

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #6- RESCHEDULED
Meeting date: Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The December 17th CAC meeting will focus on park programming, activities, partnerships, and how various ideas can support the Northside community members. Members of the public and families are invited to participate in both dinner and meeting.

Agenda

Minutes

Presentation

Presentation – Hand Out

Community Engagement Summary

 

MPRB Open House
Meeting date: Saturday, December 7th, 2019

  • Fun activities for the whole family
  • Have conversations about how the public park space will reflect the Northside
  • Consider ways Upper Harbor Terminal can evolve over time
  • Tour the site by bus (tours start at 11:45am & 1 pm)
  • See what activation and use ideas that have been gathered since 2016
  • Meet the potential partners and a park board naturalist
  • Food served at 12:30pm

Open House Flyer

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #5
Meeting date: Monday, November 18th, 2019

Agenda
Presentation
Meeting Minutes: CAC #5

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #4
Meeting date: Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019

Agenda
Meeting Minutes: CAC #4
Presentation- 1- Community Engagement Summary
2015 to 2018 Park Comment Tabulation
CAC Recommendations to the CPC

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #3
Meeting date: Monday, September 23, 2019

This CAC meeting will map out the anticipated park planning process over the next year. CAC members will also evaluate how public land and private development impact each other based on potential layout changes.

For questions, contact Kate Lamers, klamers@minneapolisparks.org, 612-230-6486

Agenda
Presentation: CAC#3
Meeting Minutes: CAC#3

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #2
Meeting date: Thursday, August 15th 2019

This CAC meeting will expand on the mission and framework for the CAC and discuss project and design principles on how park and development can interact.  The public and families are invited to participate in both dinner and meeting.

Agenda
Presentation: CAC Charge, Procedures and Concept Plan Background
Meeting Minutes

 

MPRB Community Advisory Committee Meeting #1
Meeting date: Wednesday, July 31st, 2019

Agenda
CAC Charge
Presentation: Intro to MRPB
Presentation: Intro to the Upper Harbor Terminal Site
Meeting Minutes

Background & Funding

Above the Falls Regional Park Plan Update Park improvements at the Upper Harbor Terminal (UHT) site are part of a greater vision for Above the Falls Regional Park, which extends on both sides of the Mississippi River from Plymouth Avenue to the northern city limits.

It’s important to distinguish Minneapolis’ regional parks from its network of 160 neighborhood parks. Regional parks such as Above the Falls, Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, Minnehaha and Theodore Wirth serve many people from outside Minneapolis and rely on funds from the state, Metropolitan Council and other public agencies with broad constituencies to develop and maintain park amenities. Neighborhood parks such as Perkins Hill or Folwell Park near the UHT site are smaller, primarily funded by local tax dollars and predominantly serve nearby residents.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board created a draft update to the Above the Falls Regional Park Master Plan in 2013, following an extensive visioning and community engagement process for Minneapolis’ Central and Upper Riverfront. This plan anticipates the construction of a parkway and bike and walking trails along the west side of the river that will eventually connect the UHT site to North Mississippi Regional Park and Victory Memorial Parkway to the north, and West River Parkway to the south. These improvements would make the UHT site part of the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway.

RiverFirst is a 20-year vision essential to the future of Above the Fall Regional Park. The RiverFirst vision contains several new riverfront parks and exciting riverfront park improvements aimed at better connecting communities to the Mississippi River. The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is a critical partner in turning this vision into reality.

In addition to the parkway and trails, the draft Above the Falls Regional Park Master Plan also anticipates the UHT site will have one or more significant park spaces. A signature park feature will help make the Phase 1 area of the UHT site an attractive destination for a diverse array of community members to enjoy.

Other park planning principles that will be considered during the Phase 1 planning include:

  • Integrating stewardship of natural and cultural resources with parks and trails design
  • Providing public access to the river through a continuous system of riverfront parks and trails
  • Creating a system of Riverway Streets to link adjacent neighborhoods to the river
  • Enhancing the ecological function of the river corridor, including thoughtful stormwater design and naturalization of river banks
  • Linking the Upper Riverfront to the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway