Star Tribune
Minneapolis Parks Foundation launches $20 million Transforming North Commons Park campaign
Hoping to break ground on the Minneapolis park system’s biggest-ever construction project in a neighborhood park by 2025, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation is officially launching a long-anticipated capital campaign to raise $20 million in private donations for a massive redesign of North Commons Park in north Minneapolis.
The campaign is already more than halfway to its goal after a single charity (which asked not to be identified) donated $10 million — the largest single gift ever given to the Parks Foundation, the Park Board’s primary philanthropic partner.
“That was really a wonderful thing that happened,” said Jennifer Downham, chief development officer of the Parks Foundation. “[The donors] saw this as a real way to make a huge, long-lasting impact because you know, parks are free and open 365 days a year.”
Downham said the gift is particularly appreciated because the cost of the project has gone up significantly.
North Commons Park, located at 1801 James Ave. N., sits between North High School and the West Broadway business corridor. It is best known for its towering water park, heavily-used basketball gym redone just before the pandemic as a Final Four community tribute project, and old oak grove that spans the southern half of the park, providing a retreat from the city. Its loved and worn recreation center is now 52 years old.
Nearly a decade ago, community advocates re-envisioned North Commons as a regional sports hub where youth tournaments could be hosted and suburban teams invited to north Minneapolis, rather than the other way around, as it typically happens. Extensive debates over the scope of change, fears of gentrification and the ballooning cost of construction ensued. A project initially budgeted for $20 million grew to $35 million before park commissioners last fall finally settled on a concept. Plans call for doubling the size of the recreation center and adding three new gyms, a fitness center, concessions, a dedicated senior room and a fully rebuilt water park with two slides.
The Park Board has ranked this project as its No. 1 state bonding request multiple years in row, highlighting its ability to help combat youth violence and strengthen community connections. It’s one of few free activity centers in an area that has struggled with low public school enrollment and perpetual business vacancies.
The agency has amassed about $12 million in public funding from state and federal sources as well as its own coffers, but was snubbed by the legislature last year. It is asking the state for $12 million more this year.
“Funding for a transformational project like the North Commons Park effort takes significant leadership from both private philanthropists as well as public officials,” said Parks Superintendent Al Bangoura. “We are working with our elected officials as well as the Minneapolis Parks Foundation to raise the capital and programming dollars needed for this amazing public resource.”
All donations collected by the Parks Foundation prior to the launch of its capital campaign total $11.9 million, leaving $8.1 million to go. Donors can contribute at www.mplsparksfoundation.org/Initiative/north-commons/
About 50 Ukrainian refugees have signed up to donate blood on Saturday in Minneapolis as a way to give thanks to Americans for welcoming them to this country and for support in the face of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.
The donated blood will then be given to the Children’s Hospital of Minnesota.
The Ukrainian American Community Center, located at 301 NE Main St. in Minneapolis, has organized the event. The blood drive will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, said Iryna Petrus, community outreach manager at the center.
“It’s a sign of gratitude to Americans for supporting Ukraine and saving children’s lives in Ukraine,” said Yosyf Sabir, speaking on behalf of the blood drive.
It’s also a way to say “thank you to the United States for welcoming us so warmly,” said Petrus. She said there will be a program at 10 a.m. Saturday when several leaders of the Ukrainian American Community Center will speak. She said the center is hopeful that Ukrainian groups in other parts of North America will do similar blood drives.
Those who are unable to give blood have been asked to donate cash, which will be used to purchase tourniquets that will sent to Ukraine to be used by persons who have been injured in the war. Every $50 raised will purchase one hemostatic tourniquet, the Ukrainian Center said in a news release.
If approved, that approach would drop the district’s fund balance to 6% of general fund expenditures. The current board policy is to maintain a fund balance of at least 10% of general fund expenditures.
Anoka-Hennepin’s current operating referendum brings in about $1,154 per student, but the state-allowed cap is about $2,200 per student. If increased to the cap amount, a referendum would bring in another $40 million, McIntyre said.
According to community feedback collected through surveys and community meetings over the last month, nearly 90% of respondents said they supported a referendum. Parents and families also expressed concern about growing class sizes as a result of cuts.
The two options have already been revised based on board members’ requests to reduce cuts that would mean fewer teachers at schools, McIntyre said.
At one point in the discussion, the district floated changes to middle and high school class schedules to save money, but that was removed after board member feedback. At the board’s meeting last month, several board members thanked district staff for transparency about potential cuts and responsiveness to board and community feedback.
“I would encourage people to keep asking questions,” Board Member Michelle Langenfeld said at the September board meeting, “because as we unfold more information, the opportunity becomes greater for us to make the most informed decision under these very, very difficult circumstances.”
On Monday morning, contract workers began snipping razor wire and removing it from fencing that was propped atop concrete barriers along the perimeter of the former Third Precinct police station, which was set ablaze during the uprising over George Floyd’s police killing.
Finally, the concrete barricades will come down, after 4.5 years. As private security guards looked on, contractors began removing the security measures put in place to secure the building at 3000 Minnehaha Av. after it became a focal point of protests.
For the past three years, Third Precinct police officers have been based out of a city building in downtown Minneapolis, with plans to eventually bring them back to a south Minneapolis Community Safety Center just down the street at 2633 Minnehaha Av.
What to do with the former police station – home to what has been called a “playground” for renegade cops – has been the subject of heated debate, with the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey at odds.
While the city debated its future, some conservatives jumped at the chance to use the charred building as a backdrop to hold press conferences and news reports in which they blasted the city and its leaders. Most recently, vice presidential nominee JD Vance made a campaign stop in front of the building earlier this month to blast his opponent, Gov. Tim Walz, for his handling of the 2020 riots and portray Minneapolis as a city overrun with crime.
GOP vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance speaks outside the former Minneapolis Police 3rd Precinct building in Minneapolis on Oct. 14. (Leila Navidi)
After that, several council members expressed frustration at the city’s failure to clean up the site. Despite signs saying “cleanup efforts are underway,” concrete barriers, fencing and razor wire remained all summer.
Council Member Aurin Chowdhury said earlier this month that the blight makes people feel uncared for and gives opportunists a backdrop to manipulate the scene for political gain.
Council Member Linea Palmisano blamed some of her council colleagues for the delays, accusing some members of being “desperate for any objection” to Frey’s proposal. The council passed a resolution saying that the building should not be used for any law enforcement functions again. Palmisano called it disgraceful that the building remains, scarred and secured, over four years later.
