Double Your Impact. Make a Gift or Pledge Today as Part of the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Challenge!

Minneapolis – and especially North Minneapolis – is proud, hard-working, and vibrant, and for generations parks like North Commons have played a vital role in civic life. For the youth that depend on them, well programmed parks are a pathway to healthy habits, education and career preparation, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and a sense of place, pride, and community connection.

Located between North High School and the Harold Mezile North Community YMCA and within a block of West Broadway Avenue, North Commons Park has been a neighborhood asset since it was established in 1907. And in 1971, North Commons became one of the first parks to include a recreation building. It’s this facility and the adjacent water park that are the focus of the redevelopment effort now underway.

The Campaign to Reimagine North Commons envisions this heritage park and field house as a best-in-class community campus that unlocks potential for residents and visitors through access to opportunity, growth, and connection.

Download the Campaign Preview 1-Pager (pdf)

Project Planning: Preferred Concept Expected Spring/Summer 2023

The North Commons field house and campus is expected to double the existing recreation center and water park to more than 50,000 sq. ft. With an estimated budget of $35-$50 million, it will be the largest monetary investment in a neighborhood park in the city’s history. Nearly $12 million in public funding has already been secured, with additional funding from the State of Minnesota being sought in 2023.

An interdisciplinary design team, led by FIHAN Design & Architecture, has created four initial concepts which are currently being considered by community through a comprehensive Minneapolis Park Board-led engagement process. A “preferred concept” will emerge from this process and be shared publicly for review by mid-2023.

Visit MPRB’s Project Planning Page

Campaign to Reimagine North Commons: 2023 Launch and Seed Funding

The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is committed to help bring additional funds through philanthropy to this vision. We anticipate formally launching the capital campaign this spring once the community has had time to inform and approve the full vision.

Make a Gift Now – And Double Your Impact!

The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation is generously seeding this effort with a $250,000 campaign launch challenge grant. Submit a gift below or download this “intent to give” form and mail it in for multi-year gifts. Thank you for your critical investment!

Download the North Commons Pledge Form (pdf)

Request a Campaign Conversation

Please contact Jennifer Downham at JDownham@MplsParksFoundation.org if you would like to have a campaign gift conversation. Thank you!