The city of Minneapolis is exploring plans for the city's first-ever downtown indoor playground.
City officials are seeking public input on a proposed indoor play space designed to transform the business district into a year-round, family-friendly neighborhood.
The project is currently in a survey phase to determine potential locations in existing buildings and to evaluate different management models.
"So, we're seeking public input on desired amenities and what experiences are when visiting downtown," Principal city planner Shanna Sether said. "In addition to that, we're looking to get more information on things like, is it going to be owned by a public facility or a public-private partnership?"
Once a survey period concludes in May, a comprehensive report is expected by late summer to help leaders decide on a formal budget and design. They're also exploring the use of existing downtown buildings to house the proposed play area.
There are numerous downtown buildings with vacancies, as businesses moved to close unused office space during and following the pandemic, and the city tries to transition to more residential-friendly spaces.
Sether says the city is currently surveying residents about what they would want from a project like this since it's the first venture of its kind.
"We have, in our sister city in St. Paul, we have the Children's Museum, and there are other historically family-friendly activities that have been here in Minneapolis, including the Planetarium," says Sether. "But to my knowledge we haven't had an indoor playground, specifically for families."
She says this research phase is set to wrap up in the next few weeks, and the results will help city officials to decide whether to move forward with a formal plan.
