The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board hired the Barr team to help reconstruct historic Hall’s Island and create an adjacent riverfront park. Building an island in the Mississippi River on a former industrial site presented unique challenges. Barr’s design—informed by floodplain and sediment transport modeling—had to prevent an increase in flood levels, curtail sediment concerns, and maintain the island’s stability. Barr also led environmental impact assessments, a brownfields investigation, permitting, and construction oversight. The project created three acres of new habitat in the river and improved biodiversity in a heavily industrial area of Minneapolis. The surrounding neighborhood has limited access to natural areas and the river; Hall’s Island and the riverfront park will provide recreational opportunities to the community.