What’s Happening with North Loop Park Construction?
Last year, we reported that Minneapolis Parks staff would start work on North Loop Park in the fall, transforming the N. 3rd St. green space into a quiet, welcoming spot with more trees and plantings, benches and a small stage. The start of construction has now been delayed until Spring 2027, because work must first be done to replace the park’s soil, which currently isn’t able to support the amenities planned for the park.
An updated aerial view of planned improvements to North Loop Park. Rendering courtesy of Aune Fernandez Landscape Architects.
With any new park, before new plantings can be added and construction of walkways and benches begins, Parks staff conduct soil tests to make sure the land can handle all the planned improvements. The North Loop Park soil tests revealed that the deep, underlying soils contain construction debris and other materials that wouldn’t support the planned walkways or stage. It used to be common practice to leave debris in the ground, especially when the plan was to pave over it for a parking lot. But now those soils will need to be replaced in order for the park’s approved concept plan to be implemented.
The soil test did require one change to the plan, however. The original stage will need to be re-designed so that it’s smaller and lighter. Otherwise soil as deep as 20 feet would have to be replaced. A lighter stage will require only about 4 feet of soil replacement, and be less expensive than digging out 20 feet of soil.
The lighter stage doubles as a seating area. Rendering courtesy of Aune Fernandez Landscape Architects.
In addition to the soil replacement work in the spring, park board consultants are exploring ways of adding most of the park’s sidewalks and plaza spaces at the same time.
The new soil will be able to support the planned walkways and benches for the park. Rendering courtesy of Aune Fernandez Landscape Architects.
The soil replacement work adds an estimated $400,000 to the project, which will be covered by Parkland Dedication Fees, which are fees paid by developers when they build in Minneapolis. Developers can either donate land for a park, operate their own park, or donate money to Parkland Dedication Fees. Last year, the Park Board approved $600,000 generated by North Loop development for construction of this park.
— By Mary Binkley, NLNA President