Today, the City of Minneapolis officially dedicated the 10th Avenue Bridge to the late State Senator Kari Dziedzic. Sen. Dziedzic represented the residents of Minneapolis and the people of Minnesota as a member of the Minnesota Senate from 2012 to 2024. Earlier this year, the Minnesota Senate unanimously passed a measure to designate the bridge as the Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Karl Dziedzic Memorial Bridge. The Minneapolis City Council unanimously passed a complimentary resolution shortly after, which was then signed by Mayor Frey.  

“Majority Leader Dziedzic was, literally and figuratively, a bridge builder. There are projects around our city and the entire state that exist because of her leadership,” said Mayor Jacob Frey.” I find it fitting that her name will adorn a bridge that connects college students in Dinkytown with the West Bank, crossing the river over her Senate District. The Dziedzic family is synonymous with Minneapolis and Kari’s legacy will be felt across this state for generations to come. We miss her leadership everyday.” 

Sen. Dziedzic was born and raised in Northeast Minneapolis, and a proud graduate of both Edison High School and the University of Minnesota. Dziedzic dedicated much of her life to public service, working for U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, the Hennepin County Board, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and serving as a State Senator for 12 years.  

"This distinct honor and recognition is a true reflection of Kari's dedication as a public servant as well as her tireless work as a bridge-builder for both the local community, and the citizens of the great State of Minnesota on the whole,” the Dziedzic family said in a statement. 

Dziedzic throughout her career as a State Senator,  was known as a bridge builder. Dziedzic was the Senate Majority Leader for the historic 2023 legislative session, overseeing sweeping changes that included historic investments in affordable housing, transportation and infrastructure, support for immigrant communities, policies addressing climate change, and free school meals for all Minnesota children. 

“Senator Dziedzic’s service and compassion left a monumental impact on our community,”said City Council President Elliott Payne, Ward 1. “I am honored and moved to celebrate her lasting legacy in our city in this way” 

The Minneapolis delegation in the Minnesota Senate includes: Senate President Bobby Joe Champion (DFL – SD59), Senators Scott Dibble (DFL – SD61), Doron Clark (DFL – SD60), Omar Fateh (DFL – SD62), Zaynab Mohamed (DFL – SD63) and Melissa Wiklund (DFL-SD 51). They released the following joint statement: 

“Kari Dziedzic was a bridge in every sense of the word, connecting neighbor to neighbor, city to state, legislator to legislator. She believed deeply in public service, worked tirelessly to improve the lives of everyone around her, and spent years advocating for this very bridge that will now carry her name. Minnesota will remember Kari Dziedzic as one of the most productive members of the legislature our state has ever seen. This bridge honors her legacy of service, and dedication to her neighbors, the city of Minneapolis, and Minnesota. In the years to come, thousands will cross this bridge that connects family and friends, workplaces and homes, and someone might ask, “Who was Kari Dziedzic?” The answer to that question will forever make us all proud.” 

First opened in 1929, the 10th Avenue Bridge is located in Senate District 60 and is a key artery connecting the East and West Banks of the University of Minnesota campus. More than 10,000 vehicles and 2,000 pedestrians and bicycles use the bridge as part of their daily commute. Dziedzic worked tirelessly to secure state bonding dollars for the 10th Avenue Bridge in 2017.  

Thanks to the state's investment, the 10th Avenue Bridge has been transformed to include protected bike lanes and pedestrian walkways, making it safer for students and all residents and ensuring it’s usage for generations to come. More information about these investments can be found on the City’s website.  

Miss the dedication? The full event can be found on the City's YouTube channel.