The newest place to beat the heat in Minneapolis opened last month at Currie Park. With separate areas for younger and older children, the splash pad accommodates twice as many people as the wading pool it replaced. That's a welcome feature, since Cedar-Riverside is one of the city's densest neighborhoods, with a high youth population.

The splash pad was the final element of a now-complete project that included a new restroom building; a full-sized basketball court that replaced two defunct half-courts; path improvements; and new lighting. The $3.3 million invested at Currie Park is the largest NPP20 funding allocation for a park since this long-term initiative was enacted in 2017.

5 new playgrounds

Bassett's Creek (pictured), Cleveland, Farview, Lovell Square and Phelps parks all saw new play areas open last fall and this spring.

Additional improvements at some locations included picnic facilities, landscaping and path improvements and flexible-use areas.

Projects are prioritized based on the need for repair, restoration or replacement, along with equity rankings and other factors; when possible, projects are combined for efficiency and cost savings. 

NPP20 Highlight: Farview Park and Recreation Center

While Farview had a wading pool and athletic field constructed before NPP20 funding launched in 2017, it's also had a series of NPP20-funded rehabilitation projects since then: 

• Siding and roof replacement
• HVAC/electrical replacements and overhaul
• Restroom renovation
• Accessibility improvements for parking lot, paths, recreation center entry

Taken together - along with the new playground mentioned above - these projects indicate the level of work needed at some parks. Now Farview is in good shape to continue serving the community for another 20 years. Put simply, that's why NPP20 exists! As the initiative continues across the neighborhood park system, more parks and recreation centers will see a similar renewal. 

Additional rehabilitation projects (2019 - 2021)

Restroom renovations for current ADA requirements and equitable access at Bryant Square, Matthews, Lyndale Farmstead (part of a larger capital project with other funding) and Audubon (with furnaces and air conditioning) recreation centers

Roof replacements (2020 and 2019) at Farview, Logan and Luxton recreation centers; Cavell Park (restroom building), Loring Park (maintenance building) 

Concrete sidewalk rehabilitation for smoother, safer sidewalks at 66 neighborhood parks since 2017, including 23 parks in 2020

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) projects - higher efficiency furnaces at Beltrami, Kenwood, McRae and North Commons recreation centers in 2020

Park lighting repairs and replacements at Elliot, Farview, Matthews parks

North Commons Water Park - new equipment (to be transferred to a future reconstructed water park), concrete repairs

NPP20 Annual Reports

Available online at minneapolisparks.org/NPP20, the reports provide an overview of the initiative and key financial details on NPP20-funded projects; the latest report, for 2020, covers projects in 2019, 2020 and 2021.  

More on MPRB park care and improvements

Visit the current projects page to explore and get details on the full range of work in progress to maintain, restore and upgrade the U.S.'s #1 park system.