Partnering on Hopkins’ Central Park

City of Hopkins, Central Park  

Background:   

In 2022, the City of Hopkins created a Parks System Master Plan to evaluate how their current and future parks and public spaces could better meet community interests, wants, and needs. The plan outlined a 20-year vision for updating and improving Hopkins public spaces.  

 After the planning process was completed in 2024, Central Park was chosen as the first site for revitalization.  

Central Park Improvement Study:  

Central Park is located just north of the headwaters of the Nine Mile Creek, across Excelsior Boulevard. Looking to emphasize sustainability in Central Park, the City has partnered with Nine Mile Creek Watershed District to complete this project study. Currently, the improvement study is looking at a variety of potential updates and new features in the park.  

These may include:  

  • Improved facilities for recreation 
  • An expansion of the Nine Mile Creek headwaters into Central Park 
  • Stormwater features 
  • Flood risk mitigation 

Hopkins staff are continuing to look at the feasibility of these features with partners.  

Community Engagement:  

Hopkins has collected public feedback about how the park updates can best support the community in a variety of ways including tabling at community events, dedicated park engagement events, and an online survey. NMCWD has participated in several of these events to help encourage public input on the project. Informational doorhangers about engagement were left on every house and in apartment buildings by Hopkins Park Board Members and NMCWD Community Advisory Committee members.   

Project Timeline:  

Central Park Concept Plan

The Central Park improvement project is currently in its design phase. Once this is completed, the next step in the process will be to secure funding for the project. Watershed district and city staff are working to submit applications for different grants for various aspects of project implementation.  

For more information about the Central Park plan, visit the City of Hopkins website: Central Park Master Plan