Update on new regional park at the Upper Harbor site

New 19.5-acre park is being prepped for building demolition and site grading later this year, full park construction planned 2023-24

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is making progress on building a new riverfront regional park at the former Upper Harbor Terminal (UHT) site.

Concept Plan Approved

On December 1, 2021, MPRB Commissioners approved a concept plan for the park. The new regional park will follow the edge of the Mississippi River for nearly a mile with bike and walk paths along a rehabilitated shoreline. A five-acre park entrance plaza will be accessible from Dowling Avenue and a new parkway road serving the park. Use the link below to view the plan:

Upper Harbor Terminal Park Concept Plan

Construction Schedule

Work began in March on preparing the industrial site for park construction. First, non-native vegetation is being cleared and erosion control measures installed. Tree species have been identified and assessed by MPRB Forestry. Native vegetation, which includes a number of Cottonwood trees, will be preserved and protected.

Railroad tracks are scheduled to be removed this summer, then building demolition and mass grading is expected to occur late summer through the end of the year. The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission approved the demolition plan on Jan. 18, 2022.

Park, path and parkway construction is scheduled to take place 2023-24, after building demolition and grading is complete. The new park is expected to open in 2024. See the concept plan for details.

Equipment used for this work is large and heavy and can be extremely dangerous if one is not alert around it. Stay away from it at all times. Please, above all, impress upon any children to stay away from material piles and equipment parked on or near the job site.