Monthly Archives: January 2012

Keewaydin Park Master Plan

The following item has been issued by the MPRB:

KEEWAYDIN PARK MASTER PLAN

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) invites the Keewaydin Park community to participate in a design workshop for the new Keewaydin Park master plan. A new plan is needed because expansion of the Keewaydin School building will impact outdoor recreation facilities and require removal and potential relocation of the MPRB’s playgrounds, wading pool, and basketball courts on School Board property.

The workshop will be held January 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Keewaydin Park Recreation Center, 3030 E 53rd St.
For additional information regarding the Keewaydin master plan, see the current news release: http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=52&prid=1690 and the project page: http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1320 on the MPRB website.

Heads-Up for the January 11, 2012 M P R B Committee of the Whole Meeting

MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Commissioners Brad Bourn, Bob Fine, Carol Kummer, Jon Olson, Anita Tabb, Scott Vreeland, Liz Wielinski, Annie Young and President John Erwin

January 11, 2012 5:00 P.M.

I. ROLL CALL

II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

III. ACTION ITEMS

IV. STUDY/REPORT ITEMS

1. Update on Minneapolis Demographics

2. Peavey Park Presentation – Next Steps

3. 2012 Sustainability Team Update

The following link is to the agenda, which in turn links to staff reports for the meeting: http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=37&calid=848

The meeting, which will not be televised, is open to the public. It will be held at Park Board headquarters, 2117 West River Road, next to Broadway Pizza. It will be in the Minnehaha Room next to the Board Room and will begin at 5:00 pm.

At the Committee of the Whole Meeting, there will be no voting.

V. ADJOURNMENT

More About Brownie Lake…

MORE ABOUT BROWNIE LAKE…

This notice was also released by the MPRB:

PARK BOARD TO HOLD TWO OPEN HOUSES FOR REVIEW OF BROWNIE LAKE AREA PLAN

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has been working with a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) to develop recommendations for an area plan for Brownie Lake. Two open houses will be held, one January 17 and the other February 14, for review of those recommendations before they are forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for approval. Both open houses will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at
Kenwood Community Center, 2101 W Franklin Ave.

The first open house will offer community members an opportunity to comment on possible options for the area plan. Comments and ideas expressed at the open house will
guide the CAC, park staff, and design consultants as they develop a preferred option. This preferred option will be presented for review and discussion at the second open
house. Once the area plan has been approved by the Board, it will provide direction for improvements around the lake.

“Brownie is a small lake that packs a big punch,” said Fourth Park District Commissioner Anita Tabb. “I am delighted that so many community members and residents have
participated in the CAC process. We have all learned a lot about the varied lake uses as well as its environmental aspects, and I look forward to the recommendations that come
out of this very dedicated group.”

Brownie Lake, a secluded water body surrounded by steep wooded slopes, is located at the north end of the Chain of Lakes. This natural area is enjoyed by hikers, bikers, skiers, canoeists, and an occasional fisherperson. Amenities will support existing recreational uses, as well as cycling along Cedar Lake Parkway. Measures for environmental
restoration, such as invasive species removal and slope stabilization, will be included in the plan.

The section of the Cedar Lake Parkway bike trail that runs along the east rim above Brownie Lake is a key link in a network of regional trails and receives over 370,000
visits per year. Originally built in 1976 as a combined-use trail, its six-foot width does not meet the current Grand Rounds standards.

The plan will encompass areas surrounding Brownie Lake bounded by Cedar Lake Parkway on the east, BNSF railroad tracks and N Cedar Lake Regional Trail on the south, Target offices and parking on the west, and S Wayzata Boulevard on the north.

Funding for the Brownie Lake Area Plan and Site Improvements was made possible through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment passed by Minnesota voters in 2008. The amendment increased the general sales and use tax rate by three-eighths
percent, and 14.25 % of the revenue generated by this increased sales tax is dedicated to the Parks and Trails Fund to support parks and trails of regional significance. Funds for the bike and pedestrian trail along Cedar Lake Parkway are provided by the federal Transportation Enhancement Act.

CAC members represent the range of park user groups. In addition to appointments by park commissioners and other elected officials, the CAC includes members appointed by
the Cedar Lake Park Association, the Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association, the Cedar-Isles-Dean Neighborhood Association, and the Kenwood Isles Area Association.

For more information about the project, please visit the project page at http://www.minneapolisparks.org or call 612-230-6438. To sign up for email project updates,
please visit http://www.minneapolisparks.org and click on the red envelope at the bottom of left menu bar.

Brownie Lake Area Plan Open Houses

The following notice has been issued by the MPRB:

BROWNIE LAKE AREA PLAN OPEN HOUSES

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) will hold two open houses to review recommendations for the Brownie Lake Area Plan. They will be held January 17 and February 14, both from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Kenwood Community Center, 2101 W Franklin Ave.

The MPRB has been working with a Citizen Advisory Committee CAC) to develop recommendations that will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners in March. The open houses will provide the public with an opportunity to comment on these recommendations.

The first open house will present possible options for the area plan for comment. Ideas and suggestions gathered at the workshop regarding these alternatives will guide the CAC, park staff, and consultants, in developing the preferred option. The preferred option will then be presented for review and discussion at the second open house. Once the area plan has been approved by the board, it will provide direction for improvements around the lake.

For further information about the Brownie Lake Area Plan, see the current news release http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=52&prid=1692 and visit the project page http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1296 on the MPRB website.

Park Board Selects Officers, Committees, Representatives for 2012

The following press release has been issued by the MPRB:

PARK BOARD SELECTS OFFICERS, COMMITTEES, REPRESENTATIVES FOR 2012

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) held its annual meeting Tuesday, Jan. 3, and elected its officers for 2012. Commissioners http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=36 elected John Erwin as President for the third consecutive year and Liz Wielinski was elected Vice President.

“I’m proud to continue the role of President, representing a Board that has made significant changes the last two years. Those changes include responsive leadership, a more efficient workforce, expanding our city’s tax base through riverfront development, and enhancing our parks and increasing greening while holding the line on property taxes,” said John Erwin, President of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

At the meeting President Erwin also acknowledged Commissioner Young’s contributions last year as Vice President, stating that Young’s service has been instrumental to the progress the Board and the organization has made.

The Board also elected Karen Robinson to continue serving as Secretary to the Board and Brian Rice as General Counsel.

President Erwin appointed the following Commissioners to serve on Standing Committees of the Board (one-year terms):

• Administration and Finance Committee – Chair Scott Vreeland, Vice Chair Anita Tabb, Brad Bourn, Bob Fine, Liz Wielinski

• Recreation Committee – Chair Bob Fine, Vice Chair Brad Bourn, Carol Kummer, Liz Wielinski, Jon Olson

• Planning Committee – Chair Anita Tabb, Vice Chair Bob Fine, Annie Young, Scott Vreeland, Jon Olson

• Operations and Environment Committee – Chair Jon Olson, Vice Chair Annie Young, Carol Kummer, Scott Vreeland, Brad Bourn

• Legislation and Intergovernmental Committee – Chair Carol Kummer, Vice Chair Jon Olson, Anita Tabb, Liz Wielinski, Brad Bourn

• Standards and Conduct Committee – Chair Annie Young, Vice Chair Scott Vreeland, Liz Wielinski, Bob Fine, Carol Kummer

• Innovation and Development Committee – Chair Brad Bourn, Vice Chair Anita Tabb, Bob Fine, Annie Young, Scott Vreeland

Park Board Commissioners, ten citizens and Superintendent Miller were appointed to serve on the following external boards, commissions and panels:

• Planning Commission – Liz Wielinski

• Board of Estimate and Taxation – Bob Fine

• Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission (citizen appointment) – Ali Warsame

• St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board – Scott Vreeland, Liz Wielinski, citizen appointee Stephanie Gruver, John Erwin, Superintendent Jayne Miller

• Youth Coordinating Board – Bob Fine

• Minneapolis Institute of Arts Board – Anita Tabb

• Middle Mississippi Watershed Management Organization – Scott Vreeland, alternate Annie Young

• John H. Stevens House Organization – Carol Kummer

• Minneapolis Parks Foundation – John Erwin, alternate Brad Bourn

• Minneapolis Tree Advisory Committee – Scott Vreeland, citizen appointees John Uban, Peggy Booth, Gay Noble, Jeanne LaBore, Don Willeke

• Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership – Liz Wielinski, Scott Vreeland, Bob Fine

• Minneapolis DID Greening Design & Infrastructure Committee – John Erwin

• City-MPRB Green Ribbon Committee – John Erwin, Anita Tabb

• Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee – Citizen appointees Janice Gepner, Matthew Hendricks, Joshua Houdek

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board typically meets at 5 p.m. every first and third Wednesday of each month for regular meetings. MPRB Board meetings are broadcast live from 5-9 p.m. on the Minneapolis Government Meeting Channel 79 on Comcast cable and online on the Channel 79 webpage.

Meeting agendas and related information are typically posted on http://www.minneapolisparks.org two business days prior to each meeting.

Heads-Up for the January 4, 2012 Park Board Meeting

HEADS-UP FOR THE JANUARY 4, 2012 PARK BOARD MEETING

Happy New Year!

5:00 P.M. REGULAR BOARD MEETING. The meeting will be held in the boardroom at Park Board headquarters, 2117 West River Road, just north of Broadway Pizza. This will be the first regular meeting of the new year.

5:30 P.M. OPEN TIME. Speakers need to sign up before 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.

The complete agenda, with staff reports, for the MPRB Board of Commissioners’ meeting on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 is at http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=37&calid=846

MPRB meetings are telecast live from 5-9 p.m. on the City of Minneapolis Government Meeting Channel 79 on Comcast cable and online at http://www.minneapolismn.gov/webcasts.

The regular meetings are retelecast on Channel 79 at 1 p.m. Saturdays and 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Webcasts for the recent two months are posted two to five business days after the meeting and are available for viewing under “Webcast Archives” at http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=900

The Park Board’s website is http://www.minneapolisparks.org. The phone number is 612-230-6400.

Arlene Fried

Co-founder of Park Watch

http://www.mplsparkwatch.org