urbanMSP

One lane of Portland through the park was at least temporarily reopened to traffic today

I finally got around to checking this out in person (ok, in car) last night instead of via webcam. I'm impressed with the size of the trees they're planting. Given the budgetary constraints, they could have easily skimped on vegetation and gone with tiny little brand new saplings. These are not that.

You're absolutely right. These trees are really nice. They will provide some really good shade in the years to come. I hope we can get the right amount of rain this year while the roots establish themselves. It would really suck to loose a $1000 tree the first year.

I think this probably has sprinklers, like Gold Medal Park?

Also, trees are typically under warranty for at least a year.

Those trees cost more than $1000. Also, saplings would actually grow faster, stronger and establish better root systems. I hope there will be a layer of younger trees in there too. Gold Medal Park was odd, all the trees that went in were exactly the same size, even between species.

In Gold Medal Park, some trees died. They were removed and replaced. And they seem to keep adding new trees in new locations. That park is meticulously maintained.

Was meticulously maintained. This year is very different. Not that I'm complaining -- it's still fine and $$$ is being saved.

The park is looking more like a park every day. Stone pavers and brick pavers are going in, trees are being watered, I'm starting to seen some "hills" forming too.

When does the grass go in??!??

Looks like sod going in this morning...I think.

I see sod.

US Bank Stadium webcam shows grass!

http://www.vikings.com/stadium/new-stadium/webcam.html

US Bank Stadium webcam shows grass!

http://www.vikings.com/stadium/new-stadium/webcam.html

Also definitely some testing going on with the Viking ship/ad board based on what they're displaying (including, oddly, a fire alarm alert).

They've been testing that sail video screen for weeks. Anti-smoking ads, seatbelt ads, stars and stripes waving in the breeze (which is actually pretty cool). I tell you, though, if I worked near there and had to see that thing out my window, it would drive me nuts. Hopefully it's just the testing and they'll tone it down some. Use it to advertise the upcoming football game, tractor pull or Kenny Chesney concert, but skip the public service announcements.

I'm a fan. It's like they took the best of these into one installation. And it's Public Art (tm) too!

Looks like somebody forgot to water the sod, it's already getting brown in a number of areas.

Looks like somebody forgot to water the sod, it's already getting brown in a number of areas.

Sprinklers were on at 10:15am, according to the US Bank Stadium webcam.

And at 11 Pm last night

Probably just the 90+ degree heat days after laying it.