Upper Harbor Regional Park has opened, marking the first phase of a major riverfront redevelopment in north Minneapolis.The 20-acre park opened this weekend along the Mississippi River. The project is expected to bring about 300 jobs to the area and more than 500 housing units by the time it is done.Tom Olsen, president of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, said, “What I see is future parkland… future housing… community gathering space. It’s a beginning for north Minneapolis and our entire city.”Updated calculations were not readily available, but during planning in 2021, the new park was originally projected to cost about $12.1 million. Another $26 million was projected for infrastructure and street reconstruction around the area.The most expensive part of the project is still underway, with about $302 million planned to develop the rest of the riverfront using a mix of public and private money. Plans call for mixed-income, affordable housing, a health and wellness hub and a community performing arts center.North Minneapolis resident Greg Agnew said he hopes the investment pays off for people in the area. “They don’t have the tax base. Something like this could bring in more revenue for the city to utilize and hopefully bring down property taxes too … so I think it could be a good thing,” he said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the North Side deserves an investment like this.
“The Upper Harbor Regional Park is only one small part of the transformation to make this site the jewel of our city and region. I look forward to morning runs and sunset concerts here,” he said…