Mississippi Gateway Regional Park Redevelopment
Starting in 2017, community members in Brooklyn Park helped Three Rivers Park District and the City of Brooklyn Park develop a new master plan for Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, formerly Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park. Mississippi Gateway Regional Park and the Environmental Nature Area in Brooklyn Park are being combined into a new park that will be a year-round connection for all people to celebrate the Mississippi River and the outdoors.
The master plan process identified new park features that will make the park a more inviting, welcoming and vibrant place for everyone to discover nature and the river. New paved trails and parking lots have already been completed and additional park features currently are being added. These features include a new Mississippi Gateway Center, the Treetop Trail elevated walkway, nature play areas, learning areas, and improvements to spots for fishing, picnicking, archery and more.
Construction updates
The central portion of the West Unit Environmental Nature Area is closed for construction. View a map of what's open and closed at the park.
While work is taking place, the dog off-leash area has relocated to the north side of the West Unit of the park, near the water tower. Off-leash area users should enter the water tower driveway off West River Road (north of the West Unit park entrance), and park along the driveway.
This spring at the West Unit, contractors will finish wrapping up work that was not completed in 2024: the play area, dog off-leash area, archery facility and seasonal restroom. Until the new archery range opens, archery range users are invited to visit the archery range at Elm Creek Park Reserve.
The new Rush Creek Regional Trail underpass at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park is open for trail users.
Major construction is complete at the Gateway Center, and crews and staff continue to work on finishing touches and setting up features and exhibits. Work has begun on removal of the temporary office trailers and deconstruction of the old Visitor Center. Crews will recycle and repurpose as many materials as possible from the previous building.
Elsewhere at the park’s East Unit, spring weather will allow contractors to work on the Welcome Plaza, Hillside Play Area, Treetop Trail and South Pond Learning Area.
The park is open throughout construction. Hike the trails, fish from the platform at the dam or from shore, explore the riverbank and visit the interim dog off-leash area. Access to restrooms in the vestibule of the Gateway Center is available during park hours. Park guests are reminded to follow all construction signs. To receive emailed project updates, visit this link to sign up for Mississippi Gateway Project Updates and Alerts.
Schematic Design Tour
Take a virtual tour of the design of the new park features in this animation.
Overview Maps
Master Plan
Three Rivers Park District and Brooklyn Park collaborated to develop a master plan for what were then known as Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park and the Brooklyn Park Environmental Nature Area. The two parks naturally function as one larger natural resource-based park unit located at Coon Rapids Dam on the Mississippi River. To celebrate its location on one of our nation’s greatest natural treasures, the master plan called for renaming the park Mississippi Gateway Regional Park.
The vision statement for the plan is:
A gateway for everyone to connect with the Mississippi River and its dynamic environment.
Key goals of the plan include:
- Be welcoming and engaging to everyone
- Celebrate the river as the heart of the park
- Introduce people to nature and outdoor recreation
- Provide activity and purpose year-round
Key features of the plan include a new Mississippi Gateway Center, Treetop Trail elevated walkway, nature play areas, Mini-Mississippi play feature, field learning labs, South Pond Learning Lab, nature interpretation nodes, improved trails, fishing, picnicking, non-motorized boat launch, archery, off-leash dog area, natural areas and more!
Read the full plan:
- Part 1: Executive Summary, Title - Table of Contents, Section 1: Partnership, Section 2: Introduction, Section 3: Context
- Part 2: Section 4: Input, Section 5: Summary, Section 6: Design Guidance
- Part 3: Section 7: Research, Section 8: Operations and Maintenance, Section 9: Implementation, Appendices
View the plan renderings:
Contact Us
Jason Zemke, Senior Manager of Architecture
Jason.Zemke@ThreeRiversParks.org
763-694-7601
Matt Swenson, Project Manager
Matt.Swenson@ThreeRiversParks.org
763-383-2535
