Mpls City Council approves $800 million to improve parks, streets

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a plan to spend $800 million over the next 20 years to repair streets and renovate parks citywide.

City Council President Barb Johnson said in a statement Friday the deal is in the best interest of Minneapolis families and will make the city more drivable and bikeable.

The plan increases capital spending for streets by $21.2 million annually and contributes an additional $800,000 per year for regular maintenance. The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board will receive $8 million to improve and update neighborhood parks.

"We have a 20-year back log in maintenance of our neighborhood parks," Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board Superintendent Jayne Miller said. "70 percent of the assets, basketball courts, tennis courts are going to be on their life cycle by 2020." 

Approximately 82 percent of the funding will be paid for by property tax increases.