The Loop is expected to lead to its opening in Spring 2026.

Dr. Stefanie Gefroh, president of Essentia’s West Market, said the gift will improve “the health, well-being and quality of life” of the community.

Helmut and Magnus LaPoint peruse a poster of the planned playground during Thursday’s news conference. (Photo/Nancy Hanson.)

Essentia Health is contributing $1 million toward construction of the future home of the Moorhead Public Library and community center. The donation – believed to be the largest single donation to a civic project in city history – is earmarked for support of the eighth-mile upper-level walking path inside The Loop, which will be called the Essentia Health Walking Loop.

The multi-state health system, which operates hospitals and clinics throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin, is also finalizing a second substantial gift. That one will fund improvements to the downtown river corridor trail.

The Essentia gift leads donations to the city’s campaign to cover a $7.9 million funding gap in the $41.5 million project. Most of its cost is covered by revenue to be generated by the half-cent sales tax passed by voters in 2022. Rising construction costs are blamed for the shortfall. The facility, expected to open in Spring 2026, is the first constructed on the site of the former Center Mall.

Both contributions are designed to promote year-round wellness, activity and community connection. “Together, the city of Moorhead and Essentia Health envision a future where innovation, collaboration and education converge,” Mayor Shelly Carlson said Thursday, Oct. 16, “to create a healthier, vibrant community that supports well-being.”

Dr. Stefanie Gefroh, president of Essentia’s West Market, told city leaders, “Essentia Health is thrilled to partner with the City of Moorhead. At Essentia, our mission is to make a healthy difference in people’s lives, and by collaborating with like-minded partners, we can advance that mission, positively impact even more people and deepen our roots in the places we call home.”

“This generous investment is more than a donation,” the mayor added. “It’s a powerful statement about the kind of future we’re building in Moorhead. With this support, we’re creating spaces that promote wellness, connection and community, indoors and out. The Loop and the River Walk will be places where people of all ages can move, gather, and thrive.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with this organization that shares our vision for a vibrant, healthy Moorhead.”