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Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

Is the Minneapolis park board budget larger than the general funds in Rochester and Duluth?

Brian Arola, MinnPost
yes

The 2025 budget for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board exceeded the general funds this year for two of the largest cities in Greater Minnesota: Rochester and Duluth.

Park commissioners approved a $155 million budget for 2025. Meanwhile, Rochester’s general fund totaled about $126.3 million while Duluth’s was about $108.8 million. 

The park board’s budget includes more than general funds, which are used by local governments to cover core services like police, fire and public works departments. About $46 million is for capital projects and other initiatives. 

Removing those funds from the total, the board had a $108.7 million general fund. Public works, youth recreation programs and park police are among the board’s top general-fund expenditures.

Elected by Minneapolis voters, the board sets its budget independently from the city. This year’s park budget would be about 8% of Minneapolis’ city budget, which was set at $1.89 billion.

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