Infrastructure
Minneapolis Launches $15.1M Revamp of George Floyd Square
Six years after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, city crews are embarking on reconstruction of George Floyd Square, part of a larger $323-million capital plan
A sign welcoming people to George Floyd Square is pictured, May 20, 2026, in Minneapolis.
The first phase of street reconstruction at George Perry Floyd Square in south Minneapolis—where George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, sparking a global movement calling for racial justice and police reform—got started June 8 in south Minneapolis, part of an overall $323-million city capital plan for 2026.
The rehabilitation of the square at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, renamed in 2022, is estimated to cost $15.1 million, including approximately $9.5 million in construction costs and $5.6 million for planning, outreach and engineering. The work is being done by city crews.
The first phase involves replacing underground utilities. The full plan calls for reconstruction of the entire public right-of-way, new sidewalks, new ADA pedestrian ramps, boulevards with trees, green stormwater infrastructure, new all ages and abilities bikeways, traffic calming elements, pavement, curb and gutter replacements, and pedestrian scale street lighting.
Plans also call for a return of transit service to the square, but when the square is fully revamped, no vehicles will be allowed to pass over space where Floyd was murdered. Existing memorials and art will be accommodated.
“This is going to add green space, it’s going to add lighting, it’s going to improve the street, all while improving and maintaining the area for arts and memorials, especially the spot where George Floyd was killed,” said Minneapolis Public Works Director Tim Sexton when the project was unveiled.
In addition, the city is in its third year of replacing lead water pipes throughout the city, some of which will be replaced near the square. “This year we will be replacing over 1,800 private lead service lines across neighborhoods all across the city including the properties along George Floyd Square,” said Annika Bankston, director of the Water Treatment and Distribution division in the city’s public works dept.
The city had considered turning the square into a pedestrian mall but ultimately settled on the current plan, which they call the flexible open option. The city sought community input as the plan was developed.
“Thousands of voices shaped this plan, and today we turned years of work into real progress,” Mayor Jacob Frey said in a December 2025 press release after the plan was greenlighted by the city council. “Approving the flexible open option means we are finally moving forward together.”
Other major projects in the capital plan include resurfacing 20 miles of streets and replacing and repairing structural elements of the 1923-built Nicollet Ave. bridge and rebuilding the century-old 10th Avenue bridge. Both bridges span the Midtown Greenway, a multi-use path that provides a vehicle-free route for bicyclists and pedestrians through south Minneapolis. Kraemer North America is the contractor for both bridge projects.
Another major project completed in Minneapolis 2025 entailed replacing 700 streetlights damaged by thieves stealing copper wire. The new lights use aluminum, not copper.
