At their June 4 meeting the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) approved three contracts that allow the construction phase to begin on the project to transform North Commons Park.
The contracts are for initial work, slated to begin later by early July, and include site fencing, staking and surveying; removal of water park structures and other site demolition; and excavation and other earthwork.
MPRB will share updates once specific start dates are confirmed, as well as a groundbreaking celebration for the largest neighborhood park investment in MPRB’s history. Construction is expected to continue through early summer 2027. Note: North Commons Community Center will remain open into summer 2026.
Transforming North Commons Park is more than the largest neighborhood park investment in MPRB’s history. It’s also the organization’s most complex undertaking in terms of its scope, its financial demands and commitments to a community that historically has been underserved.
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 all Minneapolis residents.
The project will construct and renovate facilities that are dedicated to: maintaining current community programs and activities (such as the water park and swim instruction); accommodating longstanding demand (such as athletics programs); and expanding offerings based on community needs and desires.