Minneapolis wants input on new downtown park

The city of Minneapolis is seeking public input on a new 4.2 acre site called the Downtown East Commons.

In addition to public meetings, people can also leave comments as part of an online survey.

The park is part of the larger redevelopment of Downtown East, which includes the Vikings stadium, as well as new apartments, office space, retail and parking.

While the park is owned by the city, it will not be managed by the Minneapolis Park Board. The public will have limited access to the park on days when it is in use by the Minnesota Vikings or other event hosts. The Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority have the park reserved for up to four months every year.

Mary Margaret Jones, president and senior principal of Hargreaves Associates, the architectural firm working on the project, spoke with MPR News' Tom Crann about the park and what they've heard so far from the public.

Correction (Feb. 26, 2015): An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported when the public can access the park. The current version is correct.