Hennepin County will spend $860,000 to improve security at the busy Target Field Station parking ramp in Minneapolis.
Hennepin County to spend $860K on security improvements at Target Field Station ramp
County and Metro Transit officials have discussed making changes for several years.
February 4, 2022 at 9:59PM
There have been issues that require a full-time security presence in the elevator lobbies and ramp next to Target Field, which is owned and managed by the county, said Margo Geffen, the county's facility services director.
The changes will address the demands posed by Twins games and concert events at several nearby music venues. The ramp also provides parking for guests at the Element Minneapolis Downtown hotel and access to Metro Transit lines serving Target Field Station.
"The updates will create a better experience for those using the ramp," Geffen said. They include:
- Better lighting and security cameras in under-lit areas.
- Roll-up parking gates to enclose the ramp's two entrances.
- The ability to close the elevator lobbies.
- Direct video intercom to the county's security operations center.
- Upgraded parking equipment that will allow the county to address issues remotely and program for specific events.
- Upgraded electronic signage with real-time messages.
The work will be done by Shoreview-based Donlar Construction Co., which won a bidding contest last fall.
The county, Metro Transit, the Minnesota Ballpark Authority, the Twins and United Properties have discussed the need for security enhancements at the ramp for several years, Geffen said.
Vestibules and garage entrances are open to pedestrians and non-parkers, resulting in substantial maintenance costs, she said. There also have been some problems with vandalism in the past year.
Annual security expenses run about $350,000 at the ramp, where two security guards work each day, The improvements will allow the county to use those resources elsewhere, Geffen said.
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