Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The updates to Hermann Heights Park are complete, including the retaining wall, new parking lots and relocation of Monuments Street’s entrance. The new entrance to Hermann Park is located further west on Center Street to improve safety.

NEW ULM — The upgrades to Hermann Height Park, begun last April, are complete, and visitors can return to the park.

The improvements to Hermann Heights Park were part of the Reinvest in New Ulm (RENU) projects funded through a half-percent local sales tax approved by voter referendum in 2016.

The improvements included a relocated entrance to Monument Street, two paved parking lots with infrastructure, sidewalks and a replaced retaining wall.

The upgrades to the park began with the removal of the former Kasota stone retaining wall that was in disrepair after water blowouts. The creation of paved parking lots allowed for more parking with 90 stalls and room for coach buses. The Monument Street entrance was moved further west on Center Street to take it off the crest of the hill and improve traffic visibility.

The park was closed to the public during the six months of construction, but visitors began returning over the weekend. The warm weather made the playground a popular destination and families now had access to convenient parking.

The Hermann Heights improvements were the second RENU project completed. The Johnson Park improvements were finished over the summer. The final RENU project is the Park and Recreation Center improvements, scheduled for completion in the autumn of 2021.