WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced a $1,522,000 grant from the National Park Service (NPS) Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program to update Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Park in Rochester. 

This funding will restore the park with new and improved amenities. It will specifically be used to resurface the basketball courts, install accessible playground equipment, develop a splash pad, build a large picnic shelter, expand the community garden, construct a new restroom, build new lighting at the basketball courts, add electrical connections in a plaza area where food trucks can park, and introduce Wi-Fi services.

“Public parks not only provide a place for recreation and relaxation, but they also strengthen our sense of community," said Klobuchar. "This federal grant will upgrade Rochester’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park with improved greenspace, sports areas, and facilities so residents can take full advantage of the park’s amenities.”

“Everyone should have access to safe outdoor spaces and recreational opportunities,” said Smith. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Rochester is getting a grant to make the park safer and more accessible for the community. I am glad to see land conversation funds at work in Minnesota.”

“We are grateful for the continued support and welcome this exciting news about the federal grant, which will provide the much-needed improvements to one of Rochester’s oldest and highly utilized parks, particularly by underrepresented communities,” said Rochester Mayor Kim Norton. “Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park has been and will continue to be a gathering space for robust community events, cultural gatherings, social meetups and a hub for health, wellness and belonging.”

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