Board OKs $1 million to improve ballpark area

Last update: April 18, 2008 - 11:32 PM

The Minnesota Ballpark Authority board on Friday unanimously authorized spending up to $1 million to improve the area around the new Twins stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

About $10 million that had been budgeted for such improvements was taken away earlier this year when stadium costs increased, said Dan Kenney, executive director of the Ballpark Authority.

No specific projects were approved Friday, but the board said it would like to improve streets, buildings and the surrounding parking ramps.

The board hopes that other entities, such as the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Hennepin County and Minneapolis, will come up with money for their own projects to improve the surrounding area.

Kenney said one of the priorities will be better signage -- and possibly banners -- to direct people through downtown to the ballpark.

Among other possible improvements are a skyway from Parking Ramp A off N. 7th Street to the ballpark. Already planned is the expansion of the Cedar Lake Trail, Kenney said.

The board also will be talking to residents and businesses in the North Loop neighborhood and the Warehouse District to get input about how to improve the area for the stadium.

HERÓN MÁRQUEZ ESTRADA

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