In August, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) allocated an additional $10.3 million to the North Commons Improvements project from its Capital Improvement Program. Now work on the project is progressing through the final design phases and MPRB is preparing for construction to begin in 2025.
One of the project goals during its construction phase is to increase participation of contractors and contracting businesses that are owned or led by minorities and/or women, or located in North Minneapolis. With a $45 million budget, MPRB is striving to keep a significant amount of project funding in the community while it delivers this once-in-a-generation project.
Get the latest info and news at an Open House on Monday October 28, 4-6 p.m. at North Commons Community Center, 1801 N. James Ave. This open house welcomes any contractors interested in participating in construction of the North Commons Improvements project. Attendees can meet with a range of people involved in the project to learn more about its various aspects.
The North Commons Park project is not just the largest in MPRB’s history: it’s the organization’s most complex undertaking in terms of its scope, its financial demands and commitments to a community that historically has been underserved.
But the project is also more than a physical transformation of the park with new and renewed facilities. At its core, it’s dedicated to creating a thriving gathering place for a community whose members, on average, have less income and more health issues than most Minneapolis residents.
The facilities that are being constructed and renovated are dedicated to: Maintaining current community programs and activities (such as the water park and swim instruction); accommodating longstanding demand (such as athletic programs); and expanding offerings based on community needs and desires.