The Minnesota Twins and Target Corp. last week unveiled designs for Target Plaza, the public space outside the Twins’ new ballpark, Target Field.
The plans for the roughly two acres over Interstate 394 between the ballpark and Target Center, which will cost up to $9 million, include a “green-roof system” with trees, shrubs, perennials and grass; three large shade canopies; nine 40-foot-tall topiary frames with LED lighting and vines; a fan and player recognition wall; an oversized bronze sculpture of a baseball glove; and a large “wind veil” attached to the facade of the Ramp B parking facility.
“Target Plaza promises to be a dynamic addition to downtown Minneapolis — both on game day and non-game days,” said Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports Inc., the parent company of the team.
Shawn Gensch, Target vice president of marketing, said Target Plaza will be a “family-friendly, energetic space for pre- and postgame activities.”
The wind veil — designed by California sculptor Ned Kahn — figures to be one of the focal points of the plaza. The display, which will stretch 285 feet wide by 60 feet high, will be made of thousands of small aluminum panels that move in the wind, creating a wavelike effect.
Forty-foot-tall topiary frames will mark the public
area outside the new Minneapolis ballpark.
The fan and player recognition wall will bear the names of every player ever to wear a Twins uniform and those of fans who pay to have their names included.
The team plans to announce more details, including prices, by Opening Day in April.
The enhanced plaza features announced Wednesday will cost $8 million to $9 million, and the Twins and Target will split those costs. That does not include the costs to build the plaza structure over I-394, which were included in the ballpark budget.
Minneapolis-based Oslund and Associates designed the plaza, working alongside Kansas City-based HOK Sport, the lead architect for the ballpark.
Target Field and Target Plaza will open for the start of the 2010 season.
Minneapolis-based Target signed a naming-rights deal for the plaza with the Minnesota Ballpark Authority, the organization that will own the ballpark on behalf of the public.
John Vomhof Jr. writes for the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, an affiliated publication.
