MEMORIAL PARK

The splash pad is proposed to be constructed at Memorial Park in northeast Brainerd.

Kim Brown, formerly Kim Welliver, and her husband Tim Brown arrived at an unusual wedding reception at the parking lot of Memorial Park in Brainerd Saturday, Aug. 22. The bride has been fighting cancer for four years so, due to her illness and the coronavirus pandemic, people attending the wedding were limited to reduce the risk of exposure. But after the wedding, as a surprise for the bride, a line comprised of friends and family gathered by their vehicles in the parking lot of Memorial Park to wish the couple well, many holding homemade signs. The couple drove slowly past, without exiting the vehicle, waving and talking with well wishers. Once everyone had greeted the newlyweds, they formed a line of vehicles behind the couple and drove through town.

A project planned to redesign Memorial Park in northeast Brainerd will take place a year later than originally scheduled.

As designs come together for a revamped version of northeast Brainerd’s Memorial Park, the plans are changing slightly, as the city agreed to terms to purchase the park’s existing parking lot Tuesday, April 7.

Despite the 3% levy increase over 2019, some taxpayers may see a decrease in property taxes because of an overall increase in market value for city properties, leading to a projected decrease in Brainerd's 2020 tax rate.

Included in that price is the possibility of purchasing the parking lot at Memorial Park from owner Mike Higgins for $223,000.

Designs for a variety of new amenities at Memorial Park are complete, but the council won’t make any final decisions until an appraisal on the parking lot comes back.

The lot is owned by Mike Higgins, who also owns the Brainerd Industrial Center across the street.

With the city’s use of Mill Avenue Park coming to end in 2021, the Brainerd City Council is exploring options to redesign Memorial Park to recoup the losses.