Divided Park Board rejects greening plan for Uptown Mall Park and keeps parking

The Minneapolis Park Board voted to keep parking spaces at Mall Park, rejecting plans for a greening initiative that aimed to enhance green areas and manage stormwater. The decision followed extensive community opposition, including a Change. org petition with nearly 800 signatures highlighting the need for parking preservation. Commissioner Billy Menz voiced concerns about damaging constituent sentiment, advocating for a compromise that balances community needs with park development. Mall Park, which stretches across five blocks, was part of a long-range plan completed in 2020 that involved community input.

The plan was set in motion due to an upcoming $3 million sewer pipe replacement project. Residents expressed worries about losing parking, particularly renters who have noted increased crime and store closures in the neighborhood. The conflict over the greening plan underscores a larger debate about park design priorities in urban areas. The Park Board's decision serves as a reminder of the challenges faced when trying to balance green space development with community parking needs.