The City of Newport has been awarded a $486,093 grant through Minnesota’s 3M PFAS Settlement to help develop a future public riverfront park along Cedar Lane.
The Priority 2 Grant is one of 26 projects selected statewide to restore and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities and natural resources in communities affected by PFAS contamination.
For nearly 15 years, Newport has been acquiring flood-prone properties along Cedar Lane as part of a plan to establish the city’s first public riverfront park. The proposed park will be located between 1605 and 1659 Cedar Lane, providing public access to the city’s Mississippi River shoreline.
Final design work is anticipated in 2027, with construction planned for 2027-28.
According to the city, the preliminary concept calls for an accessible canoe and kayak launch and a Mississippi River overlook. Other proposed amenities include a picnic shelter, perimeter walking trail, parking area, lighting, picnic tables and benches, and an accessible portable restroom.
City officials said the project will expand public access to the Mississippi River while providing additional outdoor recreational opportunities for Newport residents and visitors.
“This project represents an exciting investment in Newport’s future by expanding public access to the Mississippi River, creating new outdoor recreational opportunities, and providing a destination that residents and visitors can enjoy for years to come,” the city stated in announcing the grant.
The city emphasized that plans for the riverfront park remain preliminary. The concept plan may be modified or refined as Newport moves through the final design process.
The $486,093 award comes from Priority 2 funding associated with Minnesota’s settlement with 3M over PFAS contamination, which provides funding for projects intended to restore natural resources and recreational opportunities in affected communities.