Minneapolis Parks Foundation Receives $4 Million Grant from the Wilson Foundation to Advance North Commons Park Transformation with $2 Million Matching Gift Challenge Launched to Energize Community Support
Minneapolis, Minn.; December 9, 2025 — The Minneapolis Parks Foundation (MPF) today announced a transformational $4 million grant from the Wilson Foundation to support the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s (MPRB) North Commons Park transformative project. This contribution is one of the largest gifts in the Wilson Foundation’s history, propelling the project significantly closer to its fundraising finish line, and establishes a $2 million matching gift challenge to inspire community giving.
The Wilson Foundation’s investment marks a pivotal moment for the transformation of North Commons Park, the largest neighborhood park redevelopment in the MPRB’s history. The project will revitalize one of the city’s most beloved and well-used parks, creating vibrant new spaces for learning, recreation, wellness, community gathering, and youth development.
“North Commons Park is a cornerstone of community life, and this extraordinary gift brings us within reach of a vision years in the making,” said Martin Wera, Executive Director of the Minneapolis Parks Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to the Wilson Foundation for their leadership and belief in what this project will mean for the families who live in North Minneapolis and the region, now and for generations to come. We invite the community to join us, as every gift will be doubled, up to $2 million.”
“In the early 80s I had the honor of playing a very small role at North Commons in support of Dale Hume’s decades long effort to make a positive impact in the North Minneapolis community. That memorable experience helps make this grant particularly special,” said John Wilson, Founder of the Wilson Foundation. “On behalf of our Foundation team, we commend the MPRB for their unwavering dedication to transforming North Commons into a signature park for all of Minneapolis.”
A Major Milestone for North Commons Park
Led by the MPRB, the $49 million North Commons Park transformation includes a comprehensive reimagining of the park’s major amenities, such as a modern three-court fieldhouse, new aquatics center, a renovated community center, new lobby and fitness space, and improved outdoor amenities. Once complete, North Commons Park will better support the nearly 10,000 youth who live within walking distance of the park, according to MNCompass.org, as well as the thousands of residents in north Minneapolis and the region beyond.
“Creating a vital community hub at North Minneapolis’ flagship park is more than a project,” said Al Bangoura, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. “It’s a milestone in MPRB’s ongoing mission to dismantle historic inequities in park and recreation opportunities across the city. This makes the generosity of the Wilson Foundation all the more humbling. We’re immensely thankful for their support.”
Call to Action: Matching Gift Challenge
With the Wilson Foundation’s $2 million match, donors have a unique opportunity to double their impact and help bring the North Commons Park Transformation across the finish line. Community members, businesses, and partners interested in supporting the project can make a gift at MplsParksFoundation.org/SupportNorthCommons.
About the Wilson Foundation
The Wilson Foundation, established in 2021 by Minnesota native and biotech entrepreneur John Wilson, is a private grantmaking organization based in the Twin Cities. Their mission is to empower individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty by supporting impactful organizations, programs, and initiatives with the goal of improving the overall quality of life and elevating the entire community.
About the Minneapolis Parks Foundation
The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is the primary philanthropic partner of the MPRB and works to transform human lives through parks and public spaces by aligning philanthropic investment and community vision. MPF led the fundraising efforts for Water Works at Mill Ruins Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook. Its People for Parks Fund has supported dozens of projects and activities throughout the Minneapolis park system since it started four years ago.
In early 2024, MPF launched a fundraising campaign to raise over $20 million to help transform North Commons Park. Learn more about this work and join the campaign today, at NorthCommons.org.
About the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Established in 1883, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) oversees a renowned urban park system spanning 7,059 acres of parkland and water. Featured among its 185 park properties are more than 200 miles of biking or walking trails, including 102 miles along the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway, 55 miles of parkways, 49 recreation centers, 13 lakes, 12 formal gardens, and seven golf courses. The Minneapolis park system hosts more than 30 million visits annually.
In 2024, the MPRB was awarded the National Gold Medal for Excellence in Park and Recreation Administration for Class I agencies, which covers American park agencies serving 400,001 or more people. Since 2013, MPRB has been recognized among the top five urban park systems in the United States by the Trust for Public Land every single year. The MPRB is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) – one of three park agencies in Minnesota and fewer than 200 in the United States with this distinction for excellence in operations and service.
Media Contacts:
MPRB contact: Ben Johnson, bjohnson@minneapolisparks.org, 612-463-1413
MPF contact: Jennifer Downham, jdownham@minneapolisparks.org, 612-607-2135
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