Once defined by industrial buildings and silos, Upper Harbor Terminal is being transformed into a vibrant destination where restored natural landscapes, public gathering spaces, and innovative stormwater features are woven together along the Mississippi River. The redevelopment will bring new housing, businesses, entertainment venues, trails, and a 20-acre riverfront park to North Minneapolis. At its core, a 24-acre district stormwater system will blend habitat restoration, public amenities, and aesthetic features to create a more accessible and ecologically connected riverfront.
Since 2019, Barr has provided planning and design assistance for the redevelopment. Working with Perkins&Will, we are supporting the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board with civil, stormwater, and ecological design; environmental, geologic, and geotechnical investigations; and permitting for the new park. Barr’s work spans approximately 20 acres of the broader 50-acre redevelopment and includes the development of a district stormwater management framework that will serve the entire site.
Working closely with public agencies, developers, and the community, Barr helped develop the district stormwater system and advance phased components to final design. The interconnected system combines bioinfiltration basins, underground treatment and storage infrastructure, new streams and wetlands fed by treated stormwater, and public open spaces to manage runoff across multiple redevelopment parcels while supporting long-term environmental goals. The system is designed to treat stormwater from the 50-acre redevelopment as well as approximately 70 acres of adjacent neighborhoods and reuse captured water for irrigation and a signature stream feature within the park.
Barr also led the design of nearly a mile of Mississippi River shoreline restoration, including riverbank regrading, removal of fill and debris, and installation of native vegetation to stabilize the shoreline and improve habitat. Additional project elements include park grading, ecological restoration. and a river overlook. Combined with the stormwater management features, these elements help connect stormwater management, recreation, and high-quality wildlife habitat into a cohesive riverfront experience.
Construction began in 2022 with shoreline restoration and site grading and continues in phases across the redevelopment. Initial construction of the regional stormwater treatment and reuse system began in 2024. The park itself opened to the public in 2026, representing the largest addition to the Minneapolis park system in recent history. The integrated district stormwater system protects the Mississippi River, restores habitat, supports climate resilience, and creates a welcoming public destination that reconnects North Minneapolis to its riverfront.
