Star Tribune - February 26, 2008

Ballpark budget now accounts for leftovers

The Hennepin County Board on Tuesday approved a revised budget for the new Twins ballpark, adding a requirement that if there are any contingency funds left over they will go to a pedestrian bridge and neighborhood improvements.

The stadium construction budget will increase from $390 million to $412.4 million, a gap covered by additional money from the Twins. The county's cost is not increasing.

But stadium infrastructure costs have been higher than expected, with builders coping with a difficult site and complicated utility relocation, among other issues. To handle those costs, the county is shifting about $12 million that was to go toward improving the neighborhood around the ballpark to infrastructure.

That stirred a lengthy discussion among board members on Tuesday. In the end, they unanimously agreed to an amendment by Commissioner Gail Dorfman that would devote any remaining contingency funds to the 6th Street pedestrian bridge and then to enhancements to the area around the park.

By the end of January, 82 percent of the piles for the ballpark had been driven, and that part of the job should be done in April. Work has begun on the main concourse decks, and precast beams have been placed over Interstate 394 for the pedestrian bridge. The park is scheduled to open in 2010.

MARY JANE SMETANKA