Parks and Wreck: How a ‘Historic’ Funding Deal Sums up the Long-troubled Relationship Between Minneapolis and its Parks Board

The following article by Peter Callaghan was published in the March 23,2016 issue of MinnPost.

Parks and Wreck: How a ‘Historic’ Funding Deal Sums up the Long-troubled Relationship Between Minneapolis and its Parks Board

MinnPost photo by Peter Callaghan

The Park Board is looking for funding to update and renovate neighborhood parks and recreation centers.

When it came time for her to vote, the president of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board wanted to make clear where she stood.

“HELL, yes,” said Liz Wielinski after her name was called.

And with that, the board was unanimous in endorsing a 20-year deal with the city of Minneapolis to provide money to repair and restore 157 neighborhood parks and facilities.
If the City Council follows next month — something that is likely but not yet a certainty — the park board will stop work on a voter referendum that would have sought an annual increase in property taxes to cover the price of the initiative, which it had dubbed “Closing The Gap.”

To continue reading, click on the link to MinnPost
https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/03/parks-and-wreck-how-historic-funding-deal-sums-long-troubled-relationship-be