Minneapolis has officially opened its newest riverside attraction, The River Hub at Graco Park this past Saturday. With festivities ranging from art projects to free yoga classes courtesy of Minneapolis Bouldering Project, the community welcomed the hub with open arms. The ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 am marked the official grand opening, which was anticipated by the local residents as well as the city's environmentally conscious circles for its net-zero energy building design.
The River Hub, nestled at 810 Sibley St. NE in Minneapolis, houses a Spark'd Studios location, the Riverview Room with a view of the Mississippi River, and a variety of art and technology facilities targeted at youth. Despite a slight oversight with the phrasing about the building hours in the initial announcement, they remain consistently set for Wednesdays to Fridays from 3-8 pm, and during weekends from 12-6 pm, as specified in the official flyer published on May 9.
In the spirit of furthering connectivity and safety for the Northeast Minneapolis riverfront, the city announces the construction of a new trail bridge over the Boom Island Marina. The project includes a complete renovation of the street crossing at the Plymouth Avenue bridge foot, increasing visibility for drivers with Rapid Flashing Beacon installations, and narrowing the crossing distance for pedestrians through sidewalk bump-outs. Information on the expansive upgrade was detailed in a bulletin by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
However, summer plans for trail enthusiasts may hit a snag as significant closures impact some of Minneapolis's beloved routes. The Stone Arch Bridge and Bridge 9 are also set for repairs. While the closures are surely a headache for locals, the efforts are seen as a necessary step to ensure longer-term, safer access to these scenic paths. This sentiment has been echoed through the Park and Recreation Board's recognition of the inconvenience posed by the simultaneous closure of multiple bridges, as outlined in the recent article. Completion of the trail bridge over the Boom Island Marina has been slated for the 2026 season, reassuring the city's commitment for improvements across the board.
