Minneapolis considers building downtown playground
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Edinborough Park. Photo courtesy of the City of Edina
Minneapolis is looking to up its game with kids, exploring the idea of building an indoor playground somewhere downtown.
Why it matters: For many Minneapolis parents, finding something to do with their kids in winter often means driving to the suburbs. Meanwhile, the middle of downtown is often dead on weekends, with office workers absent.
Downtown isn't exactly kid-friendly, especially compared to neighboring St. Paul.
- Sure, Minneapolis has the Walker Art Center and Mill City Museum, which are good for an occasional visit, but not the repeatable drop-ins you get from St. Paul's Science Museum and Children's Museum.
- Holidazzle was once a major draw for families, but the parade disappeared in 2013 and its replacement festival is also gone.
Driving the news: The city has collected over 1,200 responses to a survey asking parents for their thoughts on the idea. Mayor Jacob Frey first raised the idea of a skyway-connected playground at a MinnPost event two years ago, comparing his vision to Edina's Edinborough Park.
Between the lines: The city has plenty of downtown buildings with ideal setups for an indoor playground, thanks to their two-level atriums spanning the street and skyway levels.
- One source suggested that, in addition to a playground for little kids, the city could add a rock climbing wall to draw older kids and adults, making it more of an attraction.
Nick's thought bubble: As a parent of a little kid, I love the idea of having a coffee shop, restaurant and brewpub on the skyway level, allowing parents to sip and eat while watching kids play.
What we're watching: The survey closed Tuesday, and the results will be released later this year along with a feasibility study by a consulting firm.
What they're saying
Axios readers who are parents say they're excited about the idea, but many expressed a desire for affordable admission and parking prices.
💵 Meg G.'s kids are grown now, but she loved taking them to the Children's Museum in St. Paul frequently, thanks to an annual membership that included unlimited visits.
- "To make an indoor playground work in downtown Minneapolis, the cost would have to be affordable and make it still feel 'worth it' even if you can only go for an hour or two at a time," Meg wrote.
🚘 Would I use it? YES. I hate having to make the trek to the 'burbs for things like this," wrote Alix L. "If I have to go to one more thing in Eden Prairie ..."
- Alix would happily pay for parking and buy food and would also be open to taking the bus.
🚍 Andy S. agrees: "The biggest draw for a downtown indoor playground would be that, unlike the suburban ones, it would be incredibly easy to access via transit."
🛣️ Lorie R. lives in Northeast Minneapolis and wants an indoor playground. "It seems the best ones are, at the minimum, 20 minutes away and usually require getting on the highway."