April 7, 2025, will be remembered as the day Brooklyn Park answered the call from its youth. With shovels in the ground and hope in the air, the city officially broke ground on “The Wood,” a state-of-the-art Teen Center at Zanewood Recreation Center — a long-awaited project fueled by purpose, passion, and people who believe in the power of our youth.

Marcus Hill grew up right here in Brooklyn Park. He played at Central Park, joined youth programs through Park and Rec, and became the kind of young leader those programs were designed to shape. Years later, he returned — not just to give back, but to create something that would change the future for kids coming up behind him.

We want to extend a special thank you to our incredible partner, Fogo de Chão, for helping make yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Zanewood Teen Center — “The Wood” — even more memorable for our youth.