Temporary gardening solution to be installed this summer, following delays in funding to remediate contaminated soil.
Above: map showing areas of Soo Line Community Garden where a temporary solution will be implemented this summer and allow gardening to resume. Solution details below.
MPRB encountered funding delays earlier this year in moving forward with the project to remediate contaminated soil at the Soo Line Community Garden.
In response to the delays, an alternative, temporary solution proposed by project staff will move forward this summer while efforts to fund a full remediation continue.
Details on the temporary solution are below, along with a chronological account of project activity since contaminated soils were discovered at the Community Garden last year.
2024
Contaminated soils discovered at the Community Garden; Board of Park Commissioners voted to not move forward with Hennepin County plans for a paved bike connection through the Community Garden to the Midtown Greenway (Resolution 2024-54)
December
MPRB released three draft design concepts for long-range plans for the Community Garden that would follow soil remediation at the site. Results of an online public survey and additional community engagement showed interest in concept C.
2025
February
MPRB applied for but did not receive a grant in the latest round of awards from the Hennepin County Environmental Response Fund. The grant would have covered soil remediation costs at the Community Garden.
MPRB paused the development of the long-range plan for the Community Garden.
April
MPRB staff presented community members with a temporary garden solution: Smaller in size and less than the cost of full remediation, this solution could likely be installed in 2025. In addition, Braun Engineering prepared a Response Action Plan addendum to the solution, which it submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
May
The Board of Park Commissioners voted to reallocate $275,000 in CIP funds to the temporary project for soil remediation at the Soo Line Community Garden, from the project for improvements at The Mall park.
July
MPRB is currently securing contractors to install the temporary garden solution this summer.
After the temporary garden is established, MPRB will resume community engagement to finalize a long-term remediation and design concept for the site.
About the temporary garden solution
The solution allows for gardening activities to resume temporarily throughout most of the site (see map above), by creating areas with a total of two feet of separation from existing contaminated soil.
The separated gardening areas replace existing above-grade vegetation with a base of geotextile fabric; a six-inch layer of cover materials including clean soil, seeded turf, mulch and engineered wood fiber (EWF); and raised-bed planters with at least 18” of additional clean soil.
The remainder of the site is left undisturbed and off-limits for gardening activities.
More information
Visit the project page for draft long-range design concepts, a detailed FAQ and more information
Subscribe to email updates
Project Contact
Colleen O’Dell, MPRB Planning Services Division
612-230-6469 | codell@minneapolisparks.org