Graco Park

Outdoor Use and Event Space: Learn how to reserve park space for corporate events, community celebrations, and more.

Size: 9.31 acres

Neighborhood: St. Anthony West

Commissioner District 1

Service Area: Northeast/Southeast

The land for Graco Park was purchased from Scherer Bros Lumber Co in 2010 after it had served the logging and lumber industry for decades. The MPRB oversaw building demolition and soil remediation over the next several years following the 2010 purchase, leaving it as a large empty field.

In 2016, a section of 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 joining Marshall Street at its 1600 block, just south of the BNSF railroad bridge.

In winter 2017-18, a project restored Hall’s Island, which was eliminated by lumber yard expansion in the 1960s. This project also created a new gravel river landing for canoes and kayaks.

In 2018, the MPRB and Graco Inc. reached several agreements that resulted in Graco Park. Read the “Acquisition and Development” tab for more information.

Community engagement and design work took place in 2021 and 2022, then construction started with site grading in fall 2022. Park construction began in summer 2023 and the outdoor elements of the park opened in fall 2024. A new park building, “The River Hub at Graco Park,” opened in April 2025.

Acquisition and Development: The land for Graco Park was purchased from Scherer Bros Lumber Co in 2010 for $7.7 million. The deal closed on May 26, 2010, and was financed through $5.3 million from the Legacy Act’s Parks and Trails Fund, $1.7 million from the Regional Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund, and $700,000 from 35W bridge condemnation funds from parkland purchased for the new 35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis.

On Oct. 17, 2018, the MPRB and Graco Inc. reached several agreements on the development of a riverfront park adjacent to Hall’s Island in northeast Minneapolis. Park construction began in 2022 and the first phase opened in 2024.

Included in the agreements:

• The Graco Foundation donated more than $3 million to the MPRB to fund a new park named “Graco Park.”
• Graco gave an easement for the Mississippi East Bank Trail to the MPRB for free and the parties ended legal proceedings related to the easement.
• The MPRB sold 2.2 acres located next to Graco’s Riverside production facility to Graco at a fair market value of $1.1 million.
  • This land is part of a 3.55-acre section of the 11-acre site, dubbed “Parcel D,” which was purchased by the MPRB without state regional park funding.
  • When the site was acquired in 2010, the MPRB, City of Minneapolis and Metropolitan Council all agreed that Parcel D would not become parkland and planned to instead use Parcel D for a public-private partnership of some kind.
• Graco funded flood protection constructed on Parcel D and prepaid park dedication fees for Parcel D.

Naming: The MPRB agreed to name the park “Graco Park” as part of the 2018 agreement that funded park development.

Downtown Parks is looking for volunteers to assist with programs, events and gardening. To apply and learn view Downtown Parks Volunteers.