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City of Savage Honored with 2025 LMC City of Excellence Award

June 27, 2025

 

The City of Savage received the League of Minnesota Cities 2025 City of Excellence Award for the 30,000+ population category Thursday at the League’s Annual Conference in Duluth. Savage was honored for its community engagement work around River Bend Park.

In spring 2023, following two safety-related incidents, the city temporarily removed the basketball hoops at River Bend Park to protect park users while exploring long-term safety improvements. In response to the community’s divided reaction, city leaders committed to a transparent and inclusive engagement process to shape the future of the park together with residents.

The city partnered with School District 191, the Community Equity Commission, and the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission to implement a wide-reaching engagement plan. This included community forums, targeted interviews, and outreach to neighbors, youth, and local businesses. Residents were invited to share their experiences, ideas, and safety concerns, which were then summarized into themes and presented to the Savage City Council.

The engagement resulted in a list of tangible solutions—such as improved lighting and visibility—to guide the council’s final decisions. The effort culminated in a community celebration at River Bend Park, highlighting the value of authentic dialogue and collective problem-solving.

According to the city’s award submission, the engagement process gave residents a space to be heard and helped foster shared ownership in the park’s future. It also demonstrated how cities can prioritize both safety and inclusivity through intentional, community-led design.

The City of Excellence Awards are given annually by the League of Minnesota Cities in three population categories and one topical category. The awards recognize cities for outstanding programs or projects. Each winning city will receive a plaque, a check for $1,000, and recognition in League publications and promotional activities throughout the coming year.

The League of Minnesota Cities is a membership organization dedicated to helping cities throughout Minnesota build quality communities through effective advocacy, expert analysis, trusted guidance, and collective action. The League serves over 830 member cities through advocacy, education and training, policy development, risk management, and other services.