February 24, 2015, Tuesday - The Commons Update at Mill City Museum

Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm

Location:  Mill City Museum, 704 South 2nd Street

This is your chance to provide direct input on the design of the new park adjacent to the new Vikings Stadium - Downtown East Commons.  Space will be limited, so please RSVP to help plan for seating.  The Mill District Neighborhood Association is partnering on community engagement for this project.

RSVP:  https://DowntownCommons.eventbrite.com

The City of Minneapolis will be hosting a public meeting in collaboration with Hargreaves Associates to discuss the design of the Downtown East Commons. A nationally and internationally recognized landscape architecture firm known for designing projects leading to economic growth and neighborhood change, Hargreaves Associates was selected to lead the Downtown East Commons design team project by the Minneapolis City Council on January 16, 2015. The Hargreaves Team was selected through a competitive Request for Proposals process that resulted in 14 proposals.

The public meeting will include an introduction to the design team and project background presentation by Hargreaves and City representatives. Following, meeting participants have an opportunity to provide input for how they envision the Commons.

The Hargreaves Team will use feedback gained from the meeting as well as an online survey and other community engagement activities to prepare initial park design concepts. These concepts will be presented at a second Downtown East Commons Public Meeting currently scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, 2015. As additional project information becomes available it will be posted on the Downtown East Commons webpage.

The Downtown East Commons is a two-block, 4.2 acre area bounded by Park Avenue, 4th and 5th Streets, and a proposed building on 5th Avenue South. The idea for a park was unveiled in May 2013 as a part of the Ryan Development concept now under construction in Downtown East.

The Commons will serve as a retreat for the everyday needs and wants of residents and daytime workers of Minneapolis as well as a destination for the City’s biggest events, including once in a decade events such as the 2018 Super Bowl and once in a year events such as civic celebrations.