Wanna hear about the latest info on the Northside Upper Harbor redevelopment project? The City of Minneapolis and development team partners, led by United Properties, will hold a community meeting about this huge project on April 30 at the Urban Research and Outreach Engagement Center, 2001 Plymouth, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. They will share the latest updates on the project, what work is coming this year, and discuss a proposal for the health and wellness hub, and the next steps. Attendees will be invited to give feedback on the proposal.
The Upper Harbor is a 50-acre City-owned property in North Minneapolis between Washington Avenue and the Mississippi River. It is being transformed to accommodate new places to live and work, a 20-acre riverside park, and a community performing arts center.
Visit the City’s website to learn more about the Upper Harbor redevelopment at minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/upper-harbor/.
Park construction is underway
A new 20-acre regional park is part of the Upper Harbor redevelopment. It features approximately one mile of parkway road with parking, separated bike and pedestrian trails, and native trees, grasses, woody shrubs and perennials planted across the park and new naturalized shoreline. A five-acre central park space will connect Dowling Avenue to the riverfront. An open plaza and lawn area is designed as a flexible space for events and activities.
The City of Minneapolis transferred the land to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) on November 22, 2023. This land transfer follows years of planning in partnership with the City to redevelop the 53-acre former barge shipping terminal on the North Minneapolis riverfront.
The park will also include large-scale stormwater treatment and riverbank restoration with a river overlook. Much of that work is being done in partnership with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. Check out the MWMO Upper Harbor page: minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/upper-harbor-terminal/.
Over the past two years, construction work focused on preparing the site for the future park with demolition, grading and utility work. Park construction will begin in this Spring and the park is expected to open in 2025. The new regional park will add 20 acres of publicly accessible riverfront parkland to the Minneapolis park system on the Northside, a significant milestone in the MPRB’s mission to increase parkland and river access in North and Northeast Minneapolis.
Construction continues this year on the Upper Harbor Phase 1 Public Infrastructure Project. This spring, street construction is expected to be complete.
This work includes: constructing a new north-south parkway; Reconstructing Dowling Avenue N and 33rd Avenue N; improving the intersection of Dowling and Washington; constructing riverfront multi-use trails through the site; constructing 20-acre public park, with restored shoreline, running the length of the site; and constructing and/or upgrading public utilities to support the site’s new use.
Visit the City’s website to read more about the Upper Harbor project and street construction at minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/upper-harbor-terminal/.