Bloomington Remembers Veterans told the City Council on April 28 it would deliver $100,000 from its fundraising and has secured a $350,000 Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) grant toward the veterans memorial; the group and the city approved a second amended and restated memorandum of understanding to site the memorial at Harrison Park adjacent to the 9 Mile Creek corridor.

Kate Blessing and Melissa Wirtz Prasad of Bloomington Remembers Veterans said Harrison Park provides visibility, access and a tranquil setting and reduces the site construction complexity compared with an earlier parking-lot location. "We are really excited about the new possibility of Harrison Park ... a win for all of us," Blessing told the council. The memorial design includes hanging oversized dog tags with QR-linked veteran stories, a family path and a flag/reflective area; the group expects additional fundraising and will not charge for prisoner-of-war/MIA or KIA entries, which the American Legion will cover.

Council accepted the donation and approved the MOU by voice vote, 7-0.

Immediately following the MOU presentation staff provided a schematic-design update on the 9 Mile Creek Corridor renewal project. Project manager Renee Clark and consultant SEH described four corridor areas with combined objectives: streambank restoration, habitat improvements, improved trail connectivity and accessibility, and bridge and drainage upgrades. Proposed park elements at Moyer Park include replacing the existing shelter with a larger open-air shelter featuring accessible restrooms, consolidating park facilities, a nature-themed inclusive playground and rerouting some disc-golf holes to improve safety.

Engineering staff said design choices still under study include whether to re-meander a straightened channel north of County Road 106 or to realign trails out of high-erosion zones. The team recommended keeping an existing low-head dam installed in the 1990s, and it proposed replacing an undersized bridge (Bridge 8) with a structure realigned perpendicular to the creek to protect abutments and improve flow. Staff said paved trails are proposed north of 106 and unpaved trails to the south, consistent with community input.

Staff outlined the permitting and funding path: a 30% schematic and then 60% design milestone, a planned Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) and multi-agency permit process, and anticipated cooperative funding with the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. City staff estimated permitting and design work through late 2025 and targeted construction in spring 2026, depending on permits and final funding. Nine Mile Creek Watershed District has amended its plan to include the project and will consider ordering the project later this year.

Council thanked the veterans group for its fundraising and staff for the design progress; no additional council action was required on the schematic update.