Project Location

900 Sibley St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Location Map

Project Manager

Jon Duesman
Phone: 612-230-6471
Email: jduesman@minneapolisparks.org

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Language Resources

Correo Electrónico: preguntas@minneapolisparks.org

Email: suaalo@minneapolisparks.org

Status

Current Phase: Construction

What's New

Graco Park Construction Update

Construction progressed throughout winter on new Northeast Minneapolis riverfront park on track to open in fall 2024

Groundbreaking ceremony commemorates beginning of park construction for Graco Park

Coalition of partners supporting Northeast Minneapolis, regional parks and trails, and Mississippi River water quality help create riverfront park, upgraded trail connection, and net-zero energy park building

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board awarded two major grants to improve Graco Park

$2.56 million Met Council grant will fund underpass connecting to Boom Island Park, trail connections and intersection safety improvements $480,000 MWMO grant will fund stormwater management, habitat and geothermal snowmelt […]

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Timeline

Project Milestones

2017

  • Work begins on reconstructing the island in November and is expected to be complete by summer 2018. The island will remain off-limits for human recreation until future phases are built.

2016-17

  • Permit applications filed with the U.S. Army Corps (USACE), Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

September 2, 2015

  • Board Action – Resolution 2015-299

    • Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Tom Leader Studios to provide design, engineering, and construction administrative services for phase one development of Hall’s Island and the park proposed for the former Scherer Brothers site

August 20, 2014

  • Board Action – Resolution 2014-274

    • Authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Barr Engineering to provide professional consulting services for the environmental review and permitting process associated with the development and construction of Hall’s Island

September 2011

  • Demolition of existing buildings began September 26, 2011
  • Asbestos and other hazardous material were removed in the two weeks previous to demolition. Timbers and other salvageable materials have also been removed. All utilities have been disconnected.
  • Demolition is expected to be complete by the end of October 2011. The site is secured and off-limits to the public (though the view from the Plymouth Avenue Bridge is pretty much unimpeded).
  • The second phase of the project – soil remediation – is expected to be underway in early November and complete by the end of the year.

August 3, 2011

  • Board Action – Scherer Bros Site Cleanup Project Overview and Public Comment

July 22, 2011

July 2011

  • Information on the proposed environmental cleanup plan will be presented to us during its regular board meeting on August 3
  • We plan to demolish buildings and conduct a cleanup of soils contaminated by hazardous substances on the site
  • The Minneapolis Riverfront Design Initiative, currently working with community groups to develop plans for the riverfront, envisions the Scherer Brothers property as an “important recreational entry point to the trail and park system for kayaks, bikes, skiers, and runners” and a “significant urban hub”
  • The property is enrolled in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA’s) Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup Program. The MPCA is providing technical review and oversight of the cleanup and has reviewed and approved the proposed response action plan for the cleanup. Cleanup activities are proposed to begin this fall
  • In connection with this project, Hennepin County Department of Environmental Services anticipates providing a sub-grant of up to $1.0 million from its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funded Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF). The BCRLF Program is funded by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as authorized by Section 104(d)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.

June 2011

October 2010

May 26, 2010

May 21, 2010

  • News Release – Park Board moves ahead on Scherer Brothers Land Acquisition

May 19, 2010

March 31, 2010

December 30, 2009

  • News Release – Mississippi Riverfront protection proposed by Scherer Brothers Lumber and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

December 16, 2009

  • Board Action – Authorization to enter into purchase agreement for acquisition of Scherer Brothers property
  • We will be required to obtain several agency permits in order to construct Hall’s Island. Prior to this permit review several important studies must be conducted in order to assist in these submittals.
  • A soil analysis investigation of the entire site is currently underway. Soil samples are being taken and will be analyzed to identify any potential soil contaminants

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Background

Plans are in place to develop riverfront property that we purchased in 2010 for $7.7 million, formerly owned by Scherer Brother’s Lumber Company, into parkland. In order to prepare the site for future development some site remediation work is expected.  The new park and recreated Hall’s Island would provide access to the river for paddlers and other users within a context of habitat and restored ecological function for this site. The vision includes a habitat-rich island of nearly 4.4 acres, a pebble beach, boat rental and storage for paddlers, a park-supportive cafe pavilion, and terraced gathering spaces to be programmed throughout the seasons. This project is part of the RiverFirst Initiative which envisions creating visionary parks on the Mississippi Riverfront.

By the early 1900s visionary Park Board leaders had acquired most of the east and west riverfront of the river stretching from St. Paul to St. Anthony Falls for public parkland. Since 1993 we have led the charge to expand parkland to provide a connection from the downtown area north of the Falls area.

The property is 10 acres along the East bank of the Mississippi River, South of Plymouth Avenue and bounded by 10th and 8th avenues and Sibley Street.

The financing plan was unanimously approved by the MPRB Board of Commissioners at its May 19 meeting.

The land is being financed through $5.3 million from the Legacy Act’s Parks and Trails Fund, $1.7 million from the Regional Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund, and $700,000 from 35W bridge condemnation funds from parkland purchased for the new 35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis.

The land fits into our Above the Falls Master Plan, a long-range plan to develop the land along the Mississippi River in the Central Minneapolis Riverfront area as a regional park. It also compliments the Park Board’s Comprehensive Plan visions to create parkland that “endures and captivates, shapes city character and meets diverse community needs.”

Preconstruction Reports and Assessments

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