Halloween themed park parties planned across Minneapolis began this week!
We offer something for everyone: Compete in a costume contest, create crafts, carve pumpkins, attend luncheons, dress up your pet and so much more!
Check out our list of parties and make plans to party at the park this fall!
Community Meeting
Learn about intersection safety efforts and provide input at meeting on Tuesday, October 25, 7-8:30 pm at Lake Nokomis Community Center
A community meeting regarding the intersection of Edgewater Boulevard, Lake Nokomis Parkway, and Cedar Avenue is scheduled Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7-8:30 pm at Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E Minnehaha Parkway.
The meeting is hosted by Minneapolis City Council Member Emily Koski, in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Hennepin County.
At the meeting, partners will discuss completed and in-progress work to improve safety at the intersection and ask for community input about the future of the intersection. I am incredibly thankful for the work Council Member Koski and Commissioner Conley are doing to continue to work towards a safer intersection for all modes of transit in this location. Please join us!
Community Meeting
Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Time: 7-8:30 pm
Location: Lake Nokomis Community Center
Address: 2401 E Minnehaha Parkway
Now Hiring: Park Cadets
We're hiring Park Police Cadets! This job does not require prior law enforcement training. The primary prerequisite is a degree (2-year or 4-year) in any discipline.
We employ all Cadets full-time ($27.86/hour plus benefits) and pay for them to go to school and obtain a law enforcement certificate. Once a Cadet obtains licensing, they will be promoted to a Park Police Officer.
We need good applicants more than ever – take a moment to learn more here!
Officials Needed
Attention volleyball or basketball fans: We're hiring sports officials for the winter season! Make up to $30 per game and contribute to your community by helping keep sports programs going.
We'll train you and hire you in one night! Just show up to one of the free clinics on the flyer, no reservations needed, walk-ins welcome.
If you can't make a clinic or want to get a head start on the job, visit our sports officials page: https://teamsideline.com/sites/minneapolisparks/content/27436/Homepage
Winter Sports Leagues
Winter adult sports league registration opened this week!
We're offering five sports, all with multiple skill levels available. Men's, Women's, Co-ed and Open options for most sports:
🧹 Broomball
🏒 Pond Hockey
🏀 Basketball
🏐 Volleyball
🔧 Dodgeball
Learn more here!
Superintendent's Proposed 2023 Budget
At our most recent board meeting, the superintendent presented his proposed 2023 budget for the parks. The press release outlining the budget and its priorities is a great summary of Superintendent Bangoura's presentation, you can read it here.
The proposed budget and related documents (including the superintendent's presentation) are available for viewing at www.minneapolisparks.org/budget. The public may comment on the proposed budget during the times listed below. To minimize the risk of exposure to or potential spread of COVID-19, the MPRB has added options for comments to be submitted for its public meetings and hearings. See www.minneapolisparks.org/board_meetings for details.
October 26, Public Comment Session – Administration and Finance Committee meeting, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis. The Committee meeting will follow the Board’s regular meeting, which begins at 5 pm. Comments may be made during the Budget Comment period scheduled for 6 pm.
November 2, Public Comment Session – Regular Board meeting, MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis, which starts at 5 pm. Comments may be made during the Budget Comment period scheduled for 6 pm.
November 15, Public Hearing – City of Minneapolis public hearing on 2023 tax levy and 2023 Budget, City Hall, Council Chambers Room 317, 350 South 5th Street, Minneapolis. Comments may be made during the 6:05 pm public hearing.
November 30, Administration & Finance Committee Approval of 2023 Budget – MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis. Comments may be made during 5:30 pm regularly scheduled Open Time session.
December 6, Public Hearing and Board Approval of 2023 Budget – City of Minneapolis public hearing on 2023 tax levy and 2023 Budget, City Hall, Council Chambers Room 317, 350 South 5th Street, Minneapolis. Comments may be made during the 6:05 pm public hearing.
I am always interested in hearing from my constituents about their thoughts on the budget as I work with my colleagues towards its adoption in December. Please call or email me with your thoughts and questions about the budget as proposed.
Tree Work around Nokomis
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Forestry staff will remove dead trees near Lake Nokomis this fall and winter. Trees identified for removal were specifically identified by Forestry staff as unsafe.
Some of the felled logs will be placed along the shoreline to improve wildlife habitat and reduce erosion. MPRB Naturalist staff is working with Forestry to avoid impacting bird habitat and none of the trees identified for removal contain known nesting locations.
This work will be done in two phases. The first phase will occur later this fall, and will be more selective, focused on trees not requiring large equipment. The second phase will occur over winter, when naturalized areas are dormant and the ground is frozen.
A recent project that repaired sections of eroded shoreline along Lake Nokomis included a temporary fence that protected newly planted naturalized areas during its early establishment period. Now that these areas have had time to develop, the fence will be removed in phases in conjunction with the tree removal project.
During engagement around this project we heard that public access to Lake Nokomis is important. The shoreline repair project reduced overall direct access to the lake, but formalized several specific lake access points to strike a better balance between recreation and natural habitat that prevents water quality harming erosion. It’s crucial to protect the development of the new naturalized areas and wildlife beginning to settle into these areas, so please stay out when the temporary fences start to be removed and keep your pets leashed. Do your part by only using the formal access points and help protect wildlife and habitat at Lake Nokomis.
The Minneapolis Park Police are asking for the public’s help in solving three recent arson fires at the Stevens House, located at 4901 South Minnehaha Park Drive, in Minnehaha Regional Park.
People who provide information leading to the identification of the person(s) responsible for setting these fires will be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s State Fire Marshall Division. Tips can be made by calling 1-800-723-2020.
The Park Police investigator supervising the criminal investigation is Lt. Mark Swanson. Those wishing to offer information about the case can contact Lt. Swanson at 612-230-6561 or parkpolice@minneapolisparks.org. Anyone contacting the Park Police directly will be eligible for the reward.
Fire 1 occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 30, 2022 (Minneapolis Fire Department was dispatch to the scene at 4:53 am). Case Number 2022-202930.
Fire 2 occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 20, 2022 (Minneapolis Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 3:10 am). Case number 2022-222706.
Fire 3 occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 1, 2022 (Minneapolis Fire Department was dispatched in the scene at 3:41 am). Case number 2022-232760.
Anyone who was in Minnehaha Falls Regional Park on these dates and times is urged to contact the Park Police. All information, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is important. We thank the public for their help.
Drought Impacts
 
Minnehaha Creek and the Nokomis inlet are dry after the driest September ever recorded in the Twin Cities, according to US National Weather Service Twin Cities Minnesota. The creek was also dry for a brief period in August this year.
The metro area received 0.24 inches of rain in September and only 6.82 inches between June 1 and September 30, which is the 4th driest on record (going back to the 1800s) for the June-September time period. Recently the Twin Cities area was downgraded to "Extreme" drought.
The park's customer service team is seeing an increase in inquiries about the relationship between Gray's Bay Dam and Minnehaha Creek. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District manages the Gray's Bay Dam, which is located at the outlet of Lake Minnetonka into Minnehaha Creek. The dam was built in 1979 to help control flooding on Minnehaha Creek and Lake Minnetonka.
Lake Minnetonka is currently 10 inches below its natural runout elevation of 928.6 feet. Historically, this was the elevation when water stopped flowing into Minnehaha Creek. The dam operating plan – developed over the course of 10 years with local, state, and federal partners – mimics this history, so discharge stopped when Lake Minnetonka went below 928.6 feet on July 21.
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District published a detailed update with information on Dam operation and the effects of this drought : https://mailchi.mp/minnehahacreek/waterlevelupdate-9369358
Before the ground freezes give your trees at least one last deep drink by following these watering tips:
 Option 1: For newly planted trees supplied with watering bags: Fill the bag once a week. When it's one-quarter full, pull up on the bag handles to straighten it. A 20-gallon bag takes about five minutes to fill.
Use a five-gallon bucket to slowly pour water around the base of a tree. Do this four times for 20 gallons once a week.
Option 3: Run a garden hose on a slow trickle, placed at least six inches from the tree trunk. Let it run for an hour each week.
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Help direct grant funding through the People for Parks Fund at the Minneapolis Parks Foundation! Learn more about applying to join the People for Parks Fund Advisory Committee here.
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Planning Projects
The Latest: Nothing new to report at this time.
The board approved the Hiawatha Golf Course Master Plan at our regular Board meeting on Sept. 7, 2022.
The long-term plan outlines transitioning the course from its current 18-hole configuration to 9 holes with reduced groundwater pumping, improved ecology and water management, and expanded trails and recreation opportunities. In addition to the 9-hole course, the plan includes a driving range and practice facilities that are aimed at introducing new players to the sport in an unintimidating and welcoming space, and interpretive information and exposing visitors to the rich history of Black golfers at the course and indigenous people's history in the area prior to development.
MPRB staff and outside experts studied conditions at Hiawatha Golf Course as part of an effort to create a sustainable plan for the course following catastrophic flooding in 2014. A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was formed in 2018 to make recommendations for the new Hiawatha Golf Course Master Plan. The CAC concluded its work in December 2019 and a draft plan was published for public comments in 2020.
The plan did not pass a vote by Park Commissioners in July 2021, but a related measure that renamed the clubhouse after renowned Black golfer Solomon Hughes, Sr. did pass. New signage and exhibits celebrating Black golfers at Hiawatha and in Minneapolis were installed in 2022.
The Hiawatha Golf Course Master Plan will guide long-term improvements at the course, same as all MPRB properties are guided by community-vetted and Park Commissioner-approved Master Plans. Currently there are no funds allocated toward the changes outlined in the plan and the course will remain at 18 holes until funding is secured.
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Please visit the project page for more information and to sign up for notification of project updates.
Latest: Park staff continue to discuss a new name for the park with the Dakota community, and changes to the Capital Improvement Project schedule are part of the superintendent's proposed 2023 budget.
The design for this project has been approved and park staff is working to get it out for bid this fall for construction in 2023. Additionally, Park planning staff is meeting with Tribal Councils, Dakota elders and Dakota community members to identify potential park names for nomination to replace Sibley as this park's name.
Timeline: Construction is planned for Spring/Summer 2023. Partial demolition and removals are likely to happen in the late Fall of 2022. Staff are coordinating the construction schedule with Sibley Rec Center and MPRB staff to minimize construction disturbances for park users.
. Park improvements and the renaming process are not tied to the same timeline, and improvements will not be delayed to align with the naming process.
Learn more about this project and subscribe to updates here: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/park_care__improvements/park_projects/current_projects/sibley-park-improvements/
Project Contact: Siciid Ali, 612-230-6576, sali@minneapolisparks.org or Bianca Paz, 612.230.6486, bpaz@minneapolisparks.org
The Latest: Nothing new to report at this time.
The Master Plan calls out for an outdoor gathering space to be built between the recreation center and the school. The space will be used for recreational programming by the recreation center while the school intends to use it for an outdoor classroom. Community engagement and collaboration with the school is ongoing, and construction is anticipated to begin in Spring of 2023. Subscribe to project updates on the project page.
Project Contact:
Francisca Pass
Phone: 612-499-9074
Email: fpass@minneapolisparks.org
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Construction
 The latest: Work has been progressing quickly as the crews are trying to accomplish as much as possible yet this fall. The contractors have completed most of the removals, and underground utility work in the immediate project area all while accommodating a CenterPoint Energy line replacement located in the boulevard. A damaged fence and retaining wall along the bike trail has been repaired, and six trees have been moved (huge thank you to the project team for finding ways to save trees within the project area) to accommodate the rain garden and new curb cut at Park Ave. We anticipate pouring curb, completing additional base prep for the asphalt, and additional work on the rain garden to be complete this week.
We had been experiencing drivers not following the vehicle detour but rather utilizing the frontage roads. The frontage roads are the main detour for bikes & peds in this corridor, so the team placed no parking signage and the opposing one-way street signage in the corridor which has largely solved the issue. The no parking signage will be removed once the trails have been paved.
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Construction began in September on a project to improve safety for trail users and drivers along Minnehaha Parkway Regional Trail between Portland Avenue and Chicago Avenue, with a focus on the E 50th Street area.
On Monday, October 3, Minnehaha Parkway will close to all motorized vehicle and trail traffic between Portland Avenue S and 51st Street E to accommodate work on this project. The parkway and trails are anticipated to reopen for the winter on November 11, 2022. Another full closure may be necessary in the spring, dates still to be determined.
Please follow the posted detours. Follow the links below to view detour maps:
Project Improvements
A full list of project improvements is below:
- Realignment of E Minnehaha Parkway at 50th Street to create a 3-way stop and "T" intersection.
- Expanded bike and pedestrian trail south of E Minnehaha Parkway between E 50th Street and Portland Avenue.
- Upgraded crosswalk markings, expanded curb ramps and a raised crossing on the south side of the Minnehaha/50th intersection.
- Removal of the parking bay immediately south of the Minnehaha/50th intersection.
- Conversion of the north and south Minnehaha Parkway frontage road segments to one-way.
- Repairs to the Minnehaha Parkway bike trail between Portland and Chicago Avenues
- New curb cut to access the northbound on-street bike lane at Park Avenue.
- Preservation and improved conditions for existing mature trees.
- Creation of a new rain garden to treat stormwater runoff.
The project was identified as the top priority of the Minnehaha Parkway Regional Trail Master Plan, which involved more than two years of community engagement, discussion and design. The plan was approved by MPRB Commissioners in November 2020.
View Schematic Design
If any remaining funding is available after implementation of changes in this location, prioritization of additional potential projects will be discussed with the community.
To receive notifications about this project as it progresses, please subscribe to updates on the project page. Please feel free to contact the project manager with any questions you may have about this project.
Project Manager: Carol HejlStone 612-230-6454, phejlstone@minneapolisparks.org
The Latest: Keewaydin Park construction is moving along well. Over the next few weeks all the concrete, play equipment and climbing boulders will be complete. All the play equipment and climbing boulders will look like they can be played on but that is unfortunately not the case. With weather limitations the poured-in-place soft surfacing cannot be installed until next spring as it requires consistent higher than we're experiencing temperatures to cure properly. The site will remain fenced until work can be completed in the spring. Please respect the fences and no not enter this construction zone. Thank you for your patience!
Work Scheduled for the Spring:
• All landscaping and tree/shrub plantings
• Poured-in-place soft surfacing
• Engineered Wood Fiber surfacing
• Musical play piece
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Based on feedback from community members, commissioners approved retaining the park's wading pool until its structure or supporting infrastructure fails. The pool and its infrastructure will be assessed on an annual basis in consultation with MPS facilities management staff.
The Phase 1 concept plan (pictured above and available on the Keeywaydin Park project website) includes several new play areas and other improvements, including:
- Climbable stacked boulder hills and walls
- Free-standing bouldering monoliths
- Zip line
- Separate age 2-5 and 5-12 play zones with adventure towers
- Creative nature play area with art and performance spaces
- Sand play area, slides, basket swing, and spinner
- Native plantings and naturalized stormwater area
- Picnic areas and seating
Learn more about this project and subscribe to project updates on the project page. Starting with my next newsletter this project will move to the construction section.
Project contact is Colleen O'Dell, 612-230-6469, codell@minneapolisparks.org
The Latest:
Construction is underway and anticipated to be largely complete this fall.
The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) is pleased to announce a project to update the playground at McRae Park (in south Minneapolis) to meet current safety and accessibility standards.
Subscribe to gov delivery notices for this project on the project page.
Project Manager: Francisca Pass at 612.499.9074 or via email at fpass@minneapolisparks.org.
The Latest: Construction is going really well. All the demo is completed, the base for the courts is in, the majority of the concrete curb and concrete "alley" area has been installed and rough grading around the courts is complete. We are still on track with substantial completion this fall with some of the site amenities and court color coating/line striping being installed next spring when weather allows.
Project contact:
Chris DesRoches
Phone: (612) 313-7717
Email: cdesroches@minneapolisparks.org
In 2016, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the City of Minneapolis approved ordinances to reverse years of underfunding in neighborhood parks. The 20-Year Neighborhood Park Plan (NPP20) is a long-term initiative that will transform the neighborhood park system with the following measures:
- Protect current levels of MPRB funding.
- Dedicate an additional $11 million annually, through 2036, in NPP20 funds for increased maintenance, rehabilitation and capital investments in neighborhood parks.
- Allocate NPP20 funds using a data-driven, criteria-based system to help address racial and economic equity.
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