If you’ve recently passed through Lake Street in Minneapolis, you may have noticed the transformation of the exteriors of several local businesses into colorful and creative displays of the community in mural form—34 to be exact. Over the past few months, these mural installations, known as the Mural Bonanza, have been a key facet among other initiatives that comprise the recently completed Lake Street Lift program, a revitalization project for the Lake Street Corridor aimed at creating “a more vibrant, safe, and growing Lake Street, celebrating the diverse communities that call this place home.”
The roots for Lake Street Lift go back to 2023, when the City of Minneapolis received $8 million from the state to support the economic growth, development, and vitality of Lake Street. In October of last year, the Graves Foundation was selected to administer the funding and partnered with organizations like the Lake Street Council to run the program from November through June.
According to Charise Canales, manager of placemaking and activation at the Lake Street Council, approximately half of the funding was allocated for general corridor support. In addition to the mural program, the efforts included the organization of community events and festivals, as well as vacant lot beautification…