Project Overview
The former “Ford Site” is now branded “Highland Bridge” and includes 122 acres along the Mississippi River and was the former home of Ford Motor Company's Twin Cities Assembly Plant. Within those 122 acres, four city-owned parks comprise approximately 9 acres. In addition to the four city-owned parks, there are privately owned spaces available for public use.
Announcements:
Construction Updates 2024
Míča Park
Construction of the park is expected to be complete late Fall 2024. The park will include a futsal court, irrigation, open lawn spaces, native plantings and trees, and an area where there can be community gardens if there is a group who is interested in oversight of that. There will be interpretive elements that reference the site's location at a switchyard and the significance of the park name. Míča Park reflects both Indigenous Recognition and Local Wildlife. Míča is the abbreviation for “coyote” in Dakota. There is a history of coyote families at the Highland Bridge site that come up from the rail site through this area.
Uŋčí Makhá Park Public Art
The City has $150K for public art at the Highland Bridge development allocated to public art through the 1% for art requirement. Rory Wakemup will be fabricating and installing sculptures in Unci Makhá Park, hopefully yet this fall.
COMPLETED PROJECTS
Assembly Union Park is done. Amenities include three pickleball courts, one basketball court, a large play area with poured in place surfacing, a dog relief area (not off leash dog park), picnic tables and benches.
Gateway Park is complete. The park includes a skate trail, skate bowl, stormwater basins, a storm pond, connections to MRB trail, walking paths and seating.
Uŋčí Makhá Park is complete with the exception of public art that is coming this year. The park features include a large stormwater channel, a dog park, 2 sand volleyball courts, an adult fitness area, picnic shelter, tables and seating.
Saint Paul Right Track interns worked with artists Elissa Cedarleaf-Dahl and Missy Whitehead this year to create a beautiful mural. It is an exciting project that enhances the south end of Unci Makha Park at the wall that leads under Mississippi River Boulevard toward an overlook of Hidden Falls. The mural relays the Dakota creation story.
Mississippi Boulevard Crossing project bridges Mississippi River Boulevard and the trail over the daylighted creek channel. A stairway from the south plaza of the crossing at the falls provides a flow through back up to the main path on Mississippi River Boulevard. This will help with circulation until we have funds to continue with the next phase of connecting into Hidden Falls Regional Park. That timeline is not known.
Park Naming
City Council approved names for the four parks at Highland Bridge. See the press release (pdf) for more details.
Gateway Park reflects the importance of this entry point to the city and to the neighborhood, and also references a gateway in time bridging the past to the future
Assembly Union Park recognizes the site's industrial history and the Ford Motor Company workforce as contributing members of the surrounding communities.
Uŋčí Makhá means “Grandmother Earth” in Dakota. Uŋčí Makhá Park includes geography and features that connect people from the developed site to more natural areas including access to Hidden Falls Regional Park. The park links the stormwater system from the neighborhood into the daylighted creek to the falls.
Míča Park reflects both Indigenous Recognition and Local Wildlife. Míča is the abbreviation for “coyote” in Dakota. There is a history of coyote families at the Highland Bridge site that come up from the rail site through this area.
