Apple Valley's $10.9 Million Kelley Park Is Finally Opening
TLDR
- Kelley Park's rebuild cost $10.9 million, paid for with 2023 parks referendum money.
- Grand opening is Saturday, September 26, 2026. It's free.
- Food trucks at noon, ribbon cutting at 5:30, Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band 6 to 7:30.
- About 4,000 people are expected. The parking lot cannot hold that, so free shuttles will run.
- New stage, playground, splash pad, three restroom buildings, a shelter, and a giant mobile LED screen.
If you've driven past Kelley Park in the last two years and wondered what all that construction was actually building — you get your answer on September 26.
At the Apple Valley City Council meeting on Thursday, August 27, 2026, Parks and Recreation Director Eric Carlson pulled up photos taken that same day and walked the council through a finished park. Then the council unanimously proclaimed Saturday, September 26 the "Kelley Park Grand Opening Festival."
Here's what $10.9 million bought, and how to actually get there without circling for parking.
What's Actually in the Park Now
Kelley Park was one of the projects in Apple Valley's 2023 parks referendum — that's the vote where residents approved borrowing money to rebuild city parks. Kelley Park's share of that came to $10.9 million.
Here's the list:
- A new performance stage. This is the centerpiece. It's what makes the summer concert series work.
- A brand-new playground. Carlson made a point of noting the photos were the real thing, not a rendering.
- A community splash pad, sponsored by Georg Fischer — the company behind Apple Valley-based Uponor.
- Three new restroom buildings.
- A picnic shelter.
- New parking.
The city also bought something that isn't bolted down: a 17-by-10-foot mobile LED screen. It'll show movies and concert visuals at Kelley Park, but because it's mobile, the city can roll it out for events anywhere in town.
This is the biggest piece of a busy stretch for the city's parks system. If you want the wider picture, we covered everything Apple Valley has going on with parks and public projects this year.
The September 26 Schedule
The city is combining three things into one day: the grand opening, the third annual fall food truck festival, and the ribbon cutting. Here's the run of show.
Noon — Food trucks open and run all day.
Noon to 1:30 p.m. — Kids dance DJ. This is the family block.
1:30 to 3 p.m. — The Continuing Education band plays. They're made up of District 196 students and former students, which is where the name comes from.
3 p.m. — The main act starts setting up. While that happens, the city will put a game up on the big LED screen. Carlson said it'll be the Twins or Gophers football, depending on what's on.
5:30 p.m. — Ribbon cutting with the city council and the parks committee.
6 to 7:30 p.m. — Urban Classic Presents the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire. This one is paid for by the Apple Valley Arts Foundation, the same group behind the Music in Kelley Park summer series.
The whole thing is free.
Parking Is the Part You Need to Plan
Carlson was blunt about it. The city expects around 4,000 people. "The site can fit it," he said. "The parking cannot."
So here are your options:
- The on-site lot, including ADA spaces for anyone who needs them.
- Street parking in the neighborhood around Kelley Park.
- The city-owned lot west of Culver's, then walk over.
- Free MVTA shuttles. Two buses will run a loop from the Western Service Center and the Municipal Center lots. Park there, ride over, ride back when you're done. Both directions are free.
That MVTA piece is worth noting, because the agency's future has been a live political question in the south metro this year. For now, they're running the shuttles.
And three things the city specifically asked you not to do:
- Don't park in apartment lots. Those belong to the people who live there.
- Don't park in business lots. Those businesses are trying to operate that day.
- Don't park on the grass.
The city said full parking details will go up on its website as the date gets closer, on the Kelley Park Grand Opening Festival page.
What the Council Said
The proclamation passed unanimously with no discussion or opposition. It formally declares the day a community festival, which is the mechanism that lets the city put up temporary event signage around town.
The mayor closed it out by thanking staff and sponsors: "Let's not forget the arts foundation for making sure we had some live music to kick us all off."
Also worth mentioning — the purple bear is on the promotional slide. Carlson brought it up unprompted. Make of that what you will.
The Bottom Line
Put Saturday, September 26 on the calendar. It's free, it runs from noon to 7:30 p.m., and it's the first real look most residents will get at what their referendum dollars actually built.
If you're bringing kids, the noon to 3 p.m. block is aimed at you. If you want the concert, get there before 6 and plan on the shuttle instead of the lot.
Apple Valley is in the middle of a genuinely busy stretch — new parks, new businesses opening along the retail corridor, and a comprehensive plan rewrite happening at the same time. This is the fun part of that.
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