Next, project staff will develop detailed design drawings and documents for the project and solicit bids from construction contractors. With a successful bid, project construction could begin in 2022, with the park expected to open in 2024.
Last week Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioners approved the concept plan for Graco Park, a new Northeast Minneapolis riverfront park that will be built across from Hall’s Island, just north of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge.
Thank you to everyone who contributed feedback to help create and refine the park design. Next, project staff will develop detailed design drawings and documents for the project and solicit bids from construction contractors. With a successful bid, project construction could begin in 2022, with the park expected to open in 2024.
See below for details on the Graco Park concept.
Graco Park Concept
The Graco Park concept features:
- A multiuse building with public restrooms and community space
- Native habitat restoration and stormwater management features
- A trail under the Plymouth Avenue Bridge that connects to Boom Island Park
- The Mississippi East Bank Trail will continue to travel through the park, with safety upgrades at the intersection of Plymouth/8th Avenue NE and Sibley Street NE
- Gathering spaces, walkways and river access
Graco Park Final Concept
Graco Park Building Concept
Future phases could include additional park elements as funding becomes available:
- Picnic shelter
- Watercraft rental
- Additional park or future vendor building
- Hall’s Island river overlook
Site History and Design Process
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 destroyed by lumber yard expansion in the 1960s, and created a new gravel river beach.
2018: The MPRB and Graco Inc. reached several agreements that will result in this new park. Graco’s Riverside production facility neighbors the new park, which was named “Graco Park” as part of the agreements that included more than $10 million in total financial commitments from Graco.
2021: MPRB staff collected feedback from the community, researched opportunities and constraints at the site and released three initial design concepts for Graco Park for public comments. In December, a single, preferred concept was published for more feedback.
2022: The final park concept was approved by MPRB Commissioners after a public hearing.