Green space enthusiasts and signage aficionados in Minneapolis have something minor yet new on their radar: Xcel Field Park has undergone a title transformation and will now be known as Xcel Energy Park. This name change comes following the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's (MPRB) decision on March 19th, as detailed on their website. The switch-up, instigated by Xcel Energy's request nearly two years ago, underwent the obligatory procedure of two public hearings per the board's Naming Policy.
The 13-acre park, bordered by Marshall Street NE and St. Anthony Parkway, was once a coal storage site for the Riverside power plant. The MPRB took control in the '90s, and Xcel Energy completed soil remediation in 2013. A year later, a 20-year lease was signed, paving the way for Rod Carew All Star Field.
Formerly known as Xcel Field Park, the site features horseshoe pits, a field, a garden, and a picnic shelter. Now rebranded as Xcel Energy Park, the name change reflects the utility company’s long-standing ties to the area. A new sign is expected later this year as MPRB updates its website and systems.
