Bottineau Field Park

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) begins a planned renovation of Bottineau Field Park in Northeast Minneapolis in 2025 to add new park improvements, recreation amenities and walking paths. MWMO will be funding the installation of native habitat and key green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to improve water quality, support pollinators, and enhance community awareness of biodiversity and environmental health in conjunction with the larger renovation.

A tree trench featuring five trees will collect and treat stormwater runoff along the eastern edge of the park bordering NE 2^nd Street. The trees’ root systems will filter stormwater, preventing approximately 305 pounds of total suspended solids (TSS) and 1.2 pounds of total phosphorus (TP) from entering the Mississippi River annually. The trees will also offer important cooling effects, carbon sequestration, aesthetic appeal, and benefits for migrating bird populations. Four traditionally planted trees placed nearby will help us assess the effectiveness of tree trench technology in urban landscapes.

MPRB is installing a new splash pad in the park, and water from that feature will be routed to nearby infiltration basins that are filled with native vegetation plantings. The basins will allow the water to slowly infiltrate the soil and increase groundwater recharge, rather than simply being discharged into the Mississippi River. There are anticipated future plans to capture and reuse the splash pad water for irrigation within the park as part of eventual phase two park improvements project.

Native habitat will be restored across a half-acre of the park. One planting area will be along NE 22^nd Ave, while another large area will skirt the railroad corridor east of the park. MPRB’s 2019 Above the Falls Park Regional Master Plan identifies both of these corridors as “Riverway Streets” intended to lead residents and visitors to riverfront parks. The plantings will anticipate these future corridors to the river by providing habitat and a “bird buffet” for migratory birds. An incorporated “bee way” for native pollinators, such as the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, will offer opportunities for future collaboration with community partners. The habitat plan will also include unique elements like a pollinator-friendly bee lawn, with a mix of turf grass and low-growing chemical-free flowering plants.

These highly visible stormwater treatments and habitat enhancements are an apt addition to a park that is notable for being located within the boundaries of the Minneapolis Northern Green Zone and at the conjunction of two corridors to the Mississippi River. This significant location will serve to emphasize the interconnected nature of water resources as it welcomes the surrounding community.