Monthly Archives: April 2016

Minneapolis Finds Deal to Pay for Road, Park Repairs

The following article by Eric Roper was published in the April 26, 2016 issue of the Star Tribune.

Minneapolis Finds Deal to Pay for Road, Park Repairs


Minneapolis City Council is likely to approve the 20-year plan.

After weeks of trading proposals, Minneapolis leaders on Monday reached an $800 million agreement, unprecedented in recent history, to breathe new life into the city’s crumbling roads and neighborhood parks over the next 20 years.

The deal, which appears to have enough support to pass, relies heavily on property tax hikes — though not as much as an earlier proposal by Mayor Betsy Hodges. It would set what one council member described as a “new level of service” for maintaining the city’s streets, in addition to overhauling myriad deteriorating park facilities scattered across the city.

The compromise proposal was unveiled at the City Council’s financial committee meeting, with the expectation the full council would vote on it later this week. It mixes components of a parks financing plan authored by two council members, Barb Johnson and Lisa Goodman, with another by Hodges addressing both roads and parks. Hodges, who vetoed a version of the parks-only plan, worked on the compromise.

To continue reading, click on the link to the Star Tribune

Mpls. reaches $800M deal to pay for road, park repairs …

Compromise Funding Plan Outlined for Parks, Streets

The following article by Sarah McKenzie was posted in the April 26, 2016 on-line issue of the Southwest Journal.

Compromise Funding Plan Outlined for Parks, Streets

Mayor Betsy Hodges and City Council leaders have agreed to a new long-term funding plan for neighborhood parks and the city’s streets.

The 20-year plan would dedicate $33 million in new funding each year for both needs, which would be paid for through a mix of revenue sources — including increases in the property tax levy, issuing debt and cash sources, according to a presentation by the city’s Chief Financial Officer Mark Ruff on Monday to the Council’s Ways & Means Committee.

The Council’s Committee of the Whole will have another public hearing on the plan Wednesday and is expected to vote on the proposal Friday.

To continue reading, click on the link to the Southwest Journal  http://www.southwestjournal.com/news/city-hall/2016/04/compromise-funding-plan-outlined-for-parks-streets/

Which Minneapolis Parks are the Highest Priority for Repairs?

The following article by Tom Nehil was posted on MinnPost on April 26, 2016

Which Minneapolis Parks are the Highest Priority for Repairs?

The map below shows the 106 Minneapolis parks that were recently given priority rankings (out of 157 total neighborhood parks in the city) for maintenance and improvement under the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s new capital and rehabilitation plan. The parks in the darker shade of green are slated for improvements to be made in the next five years; parks in lighter green will be included in future plans. Click on a park to see its overall ranking and the projects that are planned for the park, if known. To search for an address, use the box in the upper-right corner. For more information on how the rankings were determined, see the table below.

 

To continue reading, click on the link to MinnPost

Minneapolis Council Unveils Deal to Fund Neighborhood Parks, City Street Repairs

The following article by Peter Callaghan was posted on MinnPost on April 26, 2016.

Minneapolis Council Unveils Deal to Fund Neighborhood Parks, City Street Repairs

MinnPost photo by Peter Callaghan
Minneapolis Council unveils deal to fund neighborhood parks, city street repairs
The plan unveiled Monday will use a combination of revenue sources to provide $10.5 million a year for Minneapolis parks and $21.2 million for street repaving in the city.

The Minneapolis City Council and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board appear to have a deal that will provide city money for a 20-year program to rehabilitate neighborhood parks, heading off a proposed parks levy referendum vote this November.

To continue reading, click on the link to MinnPost

https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/04/minneapolis-council-unveils-deal-fund-neighborhood-parks-city-street-repairs

Park Superintendent Jayne Miller

Minneapolis Park Funding: Take the 20-Year City Hall Plan

The following commentary item by Mark Andrew and Carol Becker was published in the April 23, 2016 edition of the Star Tribune.

Minneapolis Park Funding: Take the 20-Year City Hall Plan


Nothing less will do to properly repair and refurbish our signature green spaces. 

 
Our city’s parks are the most important asset of Minneapolis. They bring our city high-quality neighborhoods, robust property values, healthful recreation, stable businesses and civic pride. Parks and lakes are our city’s national brand.

In the 1960s, under the leadership of Superintendent Robert Ruhe, Minneapolis neighborhood parks burst into full blossom with new swimming pools, tot lots, ball fields, tennis courts and recreation centers in the 160 park properties that had largely laid dormant. The truth, though, is that those investments — made half a century ago — have exceeded their useful life.

Our city’s policymakers all agree that neighborhood parks are in a funding crisis. They face a backlog of deferred maintenance that already exceeds $110 million. Our recreation center roofs leak; our playgrounds are rusting. In virtually every neighborhood park the need for repairs is evident.

To continue reading, click on the link to the Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-park-funding-take-the-20-year-city-hall-plan/376798801/

Phillips Pool, Facilities in Poorer Neighborhoods Top Mpls. Park Spending Priorities

The following article by Steve Brandt was published in the April 21, 2016 issue of the Star Tribune.

Phillips Pool, Facilities in Poorer Neighborhoods Top Mpls. Park Spending Priorities


Currie Park redesign is on the $40 million wish list.

A redesign of the crowded Currie Park in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood is one of the most ambitious park repairs proposed by Minneapolis Park Superintendent Jayne Miller on Wednesday.

Miller released the list to show how the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board would spend $40 million over the next five years if it can get it from City Hall or from voters in a referendum. Her proposal was developed using new criteria that considered socioeconomic factors around neighborhood parks, and concentrates initial repairs in areas with higher poverty and more minority residents.

Much of the money would be spent on rehabbing rec centers with new roofs or mechanical systems. But work to repair or replace playgrounds, wading pools, sports fields and other more visible features at parks would be tightly concentrated in inner-city neighborhoods.

To continue reading, click on the link to the Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/376466631.html

Minneapolis Park Board Faces Push for Equity in Park Repairs

The following article by Steve Brandt was published in the April 20, 2016 edition of the Star Tribune.

Minneapolis Park Board Faces Push for Equity in Park Repairs

On Wednesday, Minneapolis park Superintendent Jayne Miller will unveil a five-year list of upgrades to buildings and grounds in neighborhood parks. Her proposal will rely not just on staff assessments of each park’s repair needs but also neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors.

Shirley Heyer wants upgrades at Peavey Park, where the community has been waiting 15 years for a better rec center. For Minneaplis City Council Member Alondra Cano, it’s getting broken playground equipment fixed faster at Cedar Avenue Field where her kids play. For Jake Virden and David Gilbert-Pederson, it’s more full-court basketball outdoors.

As the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board looks for ways to pay for a long list of fixes, through a referendum or City Hall, a growing group of activists is pushing for more emphasis on parks that serve low-income and minority residents. They have turned up at public hearings and at the board’s annual legislative breakfast, asking for more focus on equity.

On Wednesday, Superintendent Jayne Miller will unveil a five-year list of upgrades to buildings and grounds in neighborhood parks. It’s intended to make tangible what’s at stake if there’s a fall referendum on neighborhood park funding, or barring that, a City Hall decision on boosting money for park repairs.

To continue reading, click on the link to the Star Tribune

http://m.startribune.com/minneapolis-park-board-faces-push-for-equity-in-park-repairs/376279021/

South Minneapolis parks discussion continues with meeting on May 5

Logo MPRB Header

South Service Area Master Plan

South Minneapolis parks discussion continues with meeting on May 5

 The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) hosts the 11th Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting for the South Service Area Master Plan (SSAMP) on Thursday, May 5, 6-8 pm in the Central Gym community room, 3400 4th Ave. S. This project will create a comprehensive, cohesive set of new park plans for all neighborhood parks south of downtown and east of I-35W.

The meeting and open house will facilitate in-depth discussions with a focus on the four remaining parks needing additional community input: Currie, Diamond Lake, Powderhorn and Todd.  Additional project topics will be raised if time allows.

The concepts to be discussed are available on the project page  Community members may also fill out an on-line survey to provide input on the concepts.

Button Visit Project Page

Heads-Up for the April 20, 2016 Park Board Meeting

4:45 P.M.  CLOSED SESSION.  Discussion Regarding Proposed Workers Compensation Settlement

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.  Visitors to Park Board meetings can find at the back of the meeting room the agenda book with all the printed materials for the meeting

5:30 P.M.  OPEN TIME.  Speakers can call 612-230-6400 before 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting to sign up or they can sign up at the Board meeting prior to the start of “Open Time”

6:30 P.M.  PUBLIC HEARING.
–Concept Approval of the 2016 Logan Park Pool Improvements
–Concept Plan Approval for Bryant Square Park Wading Pool Improvements

Some agenda items of interest are:

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