Gold Medal Park

[MNdible]

You may recall that Gold Medal Park was built with a ten year lease, starting in 2007. We're half way through, and I've heard rumblings that the lessors (the Guthrie and the City) are starting to think about what happens once the good doctors lease runs out. Thoughts?

[spearson]

I'd hope they keep it around. It's a nice park.

[Aville_37]

I don't know where the Park Board or MN Land Institute stands on this. I'd be happy if they took over (although the park may not receive the same standard of maintenance). Doubtful people in the Mill District would be willing to have the park land redeveloped into condos, etc. It's a huge asset/attraction for the neighborhood.

[Tyler]

I remember seeing a flyer for a meeting at the Bridgewater regarding the park a few months ago. I think they were discussing long term neighborhood funding. If David from Mill City Times sees this he'd probably have some info.

[mnmike]

I too would seriously doubt the park is going anywhere, but hopefully someone else will take sponsorship and add some sort of attraction...fountain, sculpture, garden...anything to make it more interesting. Something like even just one of the items that are in Millenium park. The green space is nice, but it would be great if there was something else there. I would like to see it become somethng more, and better maintained than some parks...kind of like Lyndale park by Lake Harriet.

[MNdible]

Honestly, I think that the park is much bigger than it needs to be, especially given the fact that it's right across the street from the river and isn't that well used or programmed.

I'm unsure where the property line sits relative to the mound, but the split ownership of the site raises some interesting questions.

[fehler]

Move from the Viking's Stadium topic: Why so Wet?

[seanrichardryan]

Here are Lisa's thoughts on the future of the park-

[seanrichardryan]

Long term plan-

http://millcitytimes.com/news/long-term ... stric.html

[mamundsen]

That plan is so simple it is great. Minneapolis basically has to agree not to develop the park for 50 years and also agree to a $50k budget cut. Am I missing something else?

[Aville_37]

Why on earth would ANYONE want to destroy a park downtown. Was done before with many regrets.

[RailBaronYarr]

That plan is so simple it is great. Minneapolis basically has to agree not to develop the park for 50 years and also agree to a $50k budget cut. Am I missing something else?

Simple solution to the $50k budget cut. Combination of property tax changes to make up the gap to fund maintaining the park and allowing more development downtown to broaden the tax base a little more. If you implement a land-value weighted property tax, existing properties like 6-story apartment buildings and offices won't see their rates increase. Parcels with a lot (or composed entirely) of surface parking will see the brunt. Simple.

[Aville_37]

Long term plan-

http://millcitytimes.com/news/long-term ... stric.html

Sounds like good news to me! Would be great if a similar arrangement could happen for Gateway Park north of the library.

[MNdible]

Presumably, that covers the city portion of the land, but I wonder if there's a separate agreement that covers the Guthrie's land that is currently incorporated into the park?

Also, I'd hope that if it's going to stick around for another 50 years, they figure out some way to program at least some of that space. Look across the street at Izzy's and you can see that people love a little activity to go with their generic green open space.