Minneapolis city staff members are recommending that the City Council approve a $1.8 million contract with Hargreaves Associates to design the Downtown East park next to the new Vikings stadium.
The San Francisco-based landscape architect was selected from three finalists, whittled down from 13 proposals, that competed on the project. Hargreaves has several local partners on the project, including Damon Farber Associates and VJAA.
City Council must approve the award for the 4.2-acre park, now called Downtown East Commons. First, the item must move through the city's Community Development and Regulatory Services committee on Jan. 14.
Some of Hargreaves' more notable projects include Discovery Green, a 12-acre park in Houston; Cumberland Park, a 6.5-acre park in Nashville; the recently completed Denver Union Station public plaza space totaling 8 acres; and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a massive 270-acre park built for the London Olympics in 2012.
The proposed park, on the site of the current Star Tribune building and a parking lot, has faced several funding hurdles and will likely face more.
Both city and downtown leadership have made it clear that they want to see a vibrant, dynamic park — not just a two-block stretch of grass. Some estimates suggest it will cost between $6.3 and $10.5 million to build the park. Hargreaves' budget, according to city documents, envisions spending of around $18.7 million, including its fees.
Ryan Cos., the developer responsible for the entire five-block Downtown East project, kicked off a donation drive by pledging $200,000 in September to Greening Downtown Minneapolis, a nonprofit organization formed by the Minneapolis Downtown Council.
Greening Downtown Minneapolis (GDM) will spearhead the effort with a fundraising campaign.
