No Shakespeare On Nicollet Island
The following item ran as a sidebar to an article about Shakespeare in Twin Cities' parks by Lolla Mohammed Nur which appeared in the Twin Cities Daily Planet on June 12, 2009:
Shakespeare in the Park at Nicollet Island Park in Minneapolis began in 1982, two years after the amphitheater was built. After that, Shakespeare in the Park used to take place almost every year at the Nicollet Island amphitheater and became a tradition, until a private catering company called Mintahoe Hospitality Group got a lease over the Nicollet Island Pavilion from the Minneapolis Park Board in 2001. At some point, Mintahoe began using the pavilion as its private headquarters.
Nicollet Island had originally been acquired by the Minneapolis Park Board through a grant of taxpayer money from the Metropolitan Council. It was stated in the grant that the land was a public, free, and open space. However, the contract between the MPRB and Mintahoe seems to have restricted public access to the area and surrounding facilities, such as parking locations and the amphitheater. The contract was extended last year from 10 to 22 years. Shane Stenzel, the Minneapolis Park Board Manager of Special Services, says that the parking restrictions are there to prevent people "who work across the street in factories and people who come from downtown from parking in the area, not people who visit the park". He said the parking situation is being assessed. According to Stenzel, non-usage of the amphitheater in eight years is due to "complaints from residents when there were concerts there". He said groups could perform at the nearby Father Hennepin Bandstand if looking for a location.
When asked about Mintahoe's tax debt, Stenzel first had no comment, and then went on to claim that "it is debatable whether Mintahoe owes taxes or not. Let's talk about the Metrodome and the new Twins stadium if we're going to talk about government buildings using public property. Once they start reviewing their issues then maybe we'll start reviewing our personal property issues at the parks."