Island park bench work, October 2022

October 2022 was the season Nicollet Island Park finally replaced two split benches that had faced downtown since before the last river flood. Neighbors who picnic after a DeLaSalle game had been bringing their own camp chairs. The new slats face the same river view. The trash can next to them was emptied on a tighter weekend cycle after NIEBNA asked.

That small repair still matters. The island is the city's only residential island, and the park is the living room we share with the rest of Minneapolis. When a bench fails, people sit on the limestone and the edge crumbles faster.

Photos from that workday remain welcome on the gallery page if you still have them on a camera roll.