MPRB Breaks Ground for Elliot Park’s New Athletic Field

Pictured (left to right): NCU Vice-President of University Relations Michael White, MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, MPRB Vice-President Scott Vreeland, NCU Vice-President of Student Development Mike Nosser, MPRB Commissioner Anita Tabb, North Central University President Dr. Gordon Anderson, MPRB President Liz Wielinski and NCU Head Soccer Coach Jake Smith.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), Park Board Commissioner Anita Tabb and community partners broke ground on the Elliot Park Athletic Field on Wednesday, September 17.

Improvements will feature construction of a NCAA-regulation, multi-purpose synthetic turf soccer field at this 6.44-acre park located between the Hennepin County Medical Center and North Central University (NCU).

“I want to thank our generous partners for helping us to realize the dream of a new athletic field at Elliot Park,” said MPRB Commissioner Anita Tabb. “Since day one this process has really epitomized the kind of partnerships we can make happen to improve our parks and our city.”

The groundbreaking event also included remarks by MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, NCU President Dr. Gordon Anderson.

“We are here joining with the Park Board and our friends at North Central University to create a new facility for the 21st century that meets the desires and needs of people in our community,” said Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. “We don’t create a great community without investing. This project is just one stream of investment – and we need to continue this process and history of thinking about future generations and investing in their prosperity here in Minneapolis and Hennepin County.”

The NCU Soccer Teams join in for a photo with elected officials from the MPRB and Hennepin County.

Once completed, the full-sized NCAA multi-purpose synthetic turf soccer field which will be home to the NCU Rams Soccer Team as well as many youth and adult sports leagues run by the MPRB. The project will be finished by spring of 2015.

“One of the things that is really exciting today is this project is an example of what we try to do at the Park Board which is really work in partnership with our neighbors who live next to the parks and as well as other organizations who we work with to make projects happen,” said MRPB Superintendent Jayne Miller. “These new forthcoming athletic facilities and the hard work that has been poured into this so far is a perfect example of one those collaborative projects.”

The new field will replace a portion of the current grass field, which is in disrepair. The field is host to youth football, soccer, and baseball. A new synthetic turf field will bring safer play for visitors for a much longer playing season.

“I want to say thank you to everyone who has had a part in all the work that has gone into this project so far. The city, county, Park Board, all of the partners and donors are a great team with a lot of different people,” said NCU President Dr. Anderson. “We can confidently say today we are getting a win for the neighborhood, city and the park. And the new field will be the right size if we ever host the World Cup – we could do it here!”

The MPRB has been working together with NCU, a park neighbor, to raise funds to increase the size of the field to a full size adult synthetic turf soccer field. The field will host multiple sports for all age groups.

“I can remember coming to Elliot Park for community meetings when I was first elected as a Park Board Commissioner. You would see hundreds of people on this soccer field despite it essentially being a dust bowl, people were enjoying outdoor spaces,” said MPRB Commissioner Tabb. “We asked ourselves, ‘How do we make this a better place – a more attractive place for people to be?’ I am pleased that through all of our hard work we are here today to celebrate the groundbreaking of what will truly become a gem in this community.”

The play areas in the park were updated in 1998, including a new basketball court, new pathways and landscaping. The current skateboard park was added to the park in 2004 and will be relocated within the park as part of this project.

Stay up-to-date with the Elliot Park Athletic Field Improvements by visiting its project page and subscribing to receive timely email updates.