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Located at the corner of West Broadway and 85th Avenue, next to the Hennepin County Library, Plaza Park in Brooklyn Park was designed as a “pop-up plaza” to host community events and programs and support locally created art. It is also the site of a planned METRO Blue Line Extension Light Rail station. Families will appreciate the small nature playground in the center of the plaza and the whimsical art installation. The park is one of Brooklyn Park’s Rec on the Go locations. Several local artists collaborated on the public art in the park. You can’t miss a giant red robot created by Nicholas Knutson to commemorate his favorite childhood playground. Children enjoy playing in and around it. In fact, a platform in front of the robot looks like a large stage and begs to be used for skits and performances. The mural of children laughing together was created by Geno Okok, to share a positive message and convey the pride that local youth feel for the city’s diverse population. Kids from Zanewood Recreation Center helped to create this vision. The wooden canoe-shaped benches were created by artist, Mike Klein. Take a moment to search the benches for words etched in the wood. Look for “settler” and “indigenous” and “immigrant” and “refugee”. The piece was inspired by Pierre Bottineau, whose mother was Chippewa and father was a French-Canadian trapper. The artist chose the canoe to represent the connection between the settlers and indigenous people because both communities depended on canoes, but it also represents journeys and travel that are common to present day residents of Brooklyn Park. He hopes that this piece will serve to connect the community. Learn More from Brooklyn Park – Park Pages – November 2020 issue. This space, while ready for play now, is not complete. The city, with the help of the Center for Innovation and the Arts and North Hennepin Community College and Metro State will begin work to make this a permanent plaza as early as 2022. The finalized park vision is of “a vibrant place that incorporates the arts in both design and programs” and will promote community art and create a “sense of pride” within the community. 
Public Art in Plaza Park
The Robot:
The Mural:
“Same Boat”
Coming Updates to Plaza Park