Julie Wiseman, finance director for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and Superintendent Al Bangorra presented the MPRB’s 2026 maximum property tax levy request to the Board of Estimate and Taxation at the Sept. 10 meeting. The park board’s request is a 6.75 percent maximum levy for 2026; the mayor’s recommended budget includes a 4.92 percent increase for the park board.

Wiseman said the park board’s request is focused on sustaining current service levels and funding operations for new riverfront sites. That request includes $3.4 million for wages and fringe benefits — an item the mayor’s recommendation fully supports — plus roughly $2.6 million in additional items only partially supported by the mayor. The gap between the park board’s maximum request and the mayor’s recommendation is roughly $1.6 million (about 1.33 percent of total city tax), according to Wiseman.

Parks details: Wiseman outlined two riverfront parks that are driving operational needs. Graco Park opened its outdoor spaces in September 2024 and the River Hub building opened in May 2025. Graco Park covers about 9.3 acres and includes the River Hub building, a pollinator lawn, a segment of the East River Trail, a river landing, public art, an outdoor stage and accessible parking. The park board asked for $532,000 to fund maintenance and programming staff for Graco Park; until permanent funding is in place, the site is being partially activated with one‑time funds, additional overtime for full‑time maintenance staff and reallocated downtown programming staff.

Upper Harbor Terminal Park is larger — about 12.5 acres in total, with a 5‑acre main park and roughly 7.5 acres of linear riverfront park. The park board requested $529,000 for Upper Harbor Terminal Park, with a heavier emphasis on maintenance; the park board indicated a planned opening in early 2026.

Enterprise revenues and sustainability: Deputy Superintendent Ringgold explained that the park board operates an enterprise fund that generates roughly $16 million a year from concessions, golf courses, ice arenas and other revenue‑generating facilities. That enterprise fund helps offset system costs for some facilities. Water Works and the Sculpture Garden were identified as recent or existing examples of parks that operate without general‑fund support, while Graco and Upper Harbor currently require general‑fund operational support to be fully activated.

Public testimony and board response: During public comment several park board commissioners urged the BET to fund the parks. Billy Menz (District 1) and Becca Thompson (District 2) both asked the BET to support “activation” of the riverfront parks to realize the intended community and economic benefits. Meg Forney, an at‑large commissioner and former board president, said activating the parks stimulates adjacent development and the tax base, citing examples such as North Loop.

Funding tradeoffs and next steps: Budget staff told the BET that the mayor’s recommended increase provides roughly $3.2 million targeted at wages and fringe benefits for the park board and a $260,000 youth investment, but the mayor’s recommendation does not fully cover the park board’s full 6.75 percent request. The BET received and filed the presentations; the board will act on the maximum levy on Sept. 17 and public hearings are scheduled for residents to comment further on Sept. 19 and in subsequent fall hearings.

Ending: The park board identified a near‑term need for stable operating funds to staff and maintain two new riverfront parks that the board says are already or soon will be open to the public. The BET’s upcoming levy decision will affect whether the park board receives its full requested levy authority for 2026.