In Case You Missed It: Construction in 2023
From new roads and bridges to business groundbreakings, the northwest suburbs saw significant construction work over the past year.
CCX News is revisiting some of 2023’s most significant construction projects.
A graphic rendering of a new building planned for construction at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park.
Mississippi Gateway Regional Park
In Brooklyn Park, elected officials broke ground at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park in June.
Three Rivers Park District is working on a $55 million redevelopment of the park.
Previously, the park was called the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park.
“You create stewards of the future environment by getting people into it,” said Jeff Lunde, Hennepin County Commissioner and former Brooklyn Park Mayor. “Celebrating it, see birds, seeing eagles, owls coyotes.”
When Three Rivers and its partners finish the project, the park will have a new treetop walking trail and a visitor center.
Boston Scientific broke ground at a new Maple Grove campus this fall.
Boston Scientific
Crews began construction of Maple Grove’s new Boston Scientific campus this fall. The building will have space for approximately 1,600 employees.
“This new facility, really, I think continues to focus our commitment not just [to] doing business in Minnesota, but our commitment to doing business in Maple Grove,” said Brad Sorenson, Boston Scientific senior vice president of global supply chains.
Boston Scientific expects the new campus to be completed by late 2025.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt speaks at the ribbon cutting for the North Metro Regional Public Safety Training Facility.
Police Training Facility
Police officials cheered the opening of the $17 million North Metro Regional Public Safety Training Facility in Maple Grove.
They hosted a ribbon cutting for the facility this summer.
“At a time when we’re being pressed to be perfect, the only thing that’s closest to perfect or that will get you close to perfect is training,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.
The facility includes a classrooms, an indoor shooting rage, and a 300-degree multi-screen virtual simulator.
The restored beehive fire pit at Graeser Park in Robbinsdsale.
Graeser Park
Volunteers celebrated the restoration of historic Graeser Park in Robbinsdale. It hosts one of the two remaining beehive fireplaces in the Twin Cities.
The fireplace, as well as new picnic tables and sidewalks were installed at the park.
“It’s so special to walk into and see something from the past that we can connect to and still enjoy today,” said Kristi Gibson, member of the Graeser Park Restoration and Preservation Committee.
MNDOT reconstructed the Rockford Road overpass and interchange with Highway 169.
Rockford Road and Highway 169 Bridge
The Rockford Road bridge over Highway 169 reopened in November after a significant construction project.
Workers at the nearby New Hope Church were happy to see safety improvements come to the interchange.
“From where I sit, I have a view of the intersection and often see people walking along the sides there and riding bikes,” said Randi Soderstrom with the New Hope Church. “It makes us quite nervous.”
Construction on the bridge began in April. Seven months and about $19 million later, the bridge was reopened to traffic.
Brooklyn Park | Maple Grove | New Hope | Plymouth | Robbinsdale
