Minneapolis Park Board presents 2026 budget prioritizing maintenance, stormwater and new revenue

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board on Oct. 16 presented a recommended 2026 budget that emphasizes maintaining existing amenities, advancing stormwater management and generating new revenue to reduce reliance on property taxes.

Kathy Abeni, president of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, introduced the plan and said the board and staff had worked with the mayor's office and the Board of Estimate and Taxation to shape the proposal. "This is a budget to be proud of," Abeni said, noting the package supports the final year of the board’s 2023–2026 strategic directions.

The budget narrative presented by Superintendent Al Bangorra and Finance Director Julie Weissman outlined several near-term and structural priorities. The board highlighted completed and in-progress projects including the river hub at Graco Park, the Upper Harbor Park (a 20‑acre regional park), and construction on North Commons Park. "Each of these transformative projects is located in a historically underserved area," Bangorra said, and were described as funded through a combination of strategic investments and partnerships.

Weissman summarized key fiscal moves: an increase in parkway repair funding from $750,000 to more than $3,000,000 by 2026; an established stormwater utility charge that increases stormwater funding from about…