At their August 21 board meeting, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Commissioners voted to pass Resolution 2024-144, which reallocates $10.3 million of Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds to the North Commons Park Improvements project.
The reallocation will address a $16.4 million budget shortfall for the North Commons project, which will bring a new, three-gym fieldhouse to the park, as well as a new water park with water park support facilities, a new parking lot, and renovate the recreation center.
The MPRB approved the project’s concept plan last fall with a $35 million budget; however, updated estimates, based on the project’s schematic design, place the budget at $45 million. The cost increase stems from a range of factors that include, but are not limited to, volatility in the construction industry and completion of schematic design and project scoping.
About the approved reallocation: The Neighborhood Developed and Neighborhood Undeveloped Park sections of MPRB’s 2026 CIP include $10.3 million slated for 15 neighborhood park improvement projects. MPRB staff recommended the Board reallocate those funds to North Commons Park Plan Implementation; delay funding for the 15 projects to 2027; and for the following three CIP years, 2027–2029, delay funding for neighborhood park improvement projects to 2028–2030. These funding sources for MPRB’s CIP are dedicated to capital park improvements only.
Reallocating the $10.3 million would significantly raise MPRB’s financial contribution to the North Commons project, from 5% ($1.9 million of a $35 million project) to 27% ($12.2 million of a $45 million project), reaffirming – for both Northside communities and current and potential funders – MPRB’s commitment to a historic investment in a critical area of the city. The Minneapolis Parks Foundation remains committed to raising and investing $16.5 million of its current $20 million campaign to go to the transformational North Commons Park project.
In addition, funding a significant portion of the shortfall with its own dedicated capital improvement funds allows MPRB to continue seeking the necessary $6.1 million in additional funding to make up the remaining budget shortfall. MPRB staff will recommend that North Commons Park remain on the MPRB Legislative Agenda for 2025.
Finally, the reallocation option eases a longstanding issue: the gap between MPRB’s limited project staff and the robust roster of park improvements scheduled through its 20-Year Neighborhood Park Plan. The one-year delay for neighborhood park projects in the CIP would allow MPRB project staff to advance dozens of current and not-yet-launched neighborhood park improvement projects: 46 that are active; 12 that are funded but not active due to limited staff; and 11 new projects funded in the 2025 CIP.