Category Archives: MPRB

Equity Debate Draws Candidates for Minneapolis Park Board Election

The following article by Steve Brandt was published in the November 15, 2016 edition of the Star Tribune.

Equity Debate Draws Candidates for Minneapolis Park Board Election

 
Citywide and southwest seats are drawing the most competition so far. 
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Carol House pushed her grandson Isaiah Halsall on a swing at the newly remodeled East Phillips Park May 29, 2014

 

A year before next year’s Minneapolis park commissioner elections, the field of citywide candidates is getting crowded.

And that’s before a push to recruit equity-focused candidates hits high gear.

There are already two candidates challenging Commissioner Brad Bourn for his southwest Minneapolis seat. And a half-dozen candidates are possibilities for the three citywide seats on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, which oversees more than 6,000 acres and a $101.2 million budget. It’s poised to spend a windfall of new money to fix neighborhood parks but bedeviled by charges of racism.

To continue reading click on the link to the Star Tribune This article 

MPRB Names New Assistant Superintendent for Minneapolis Parks’ Recreation Division

MPRB Names New Assistant Superintendent for Minneapolis Parks’ Recreation Division

Tyrize Cox
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) today announced the new leader for its Recreation Division. Tyrize Cox joins the Park Board following a national candidate search. Cox begins her duties on September 6, 2016.

“I’m excited for Tyrize to join the Park Board team,” said MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller. “Her commitment to public service and the communities of Minneapolis will serve the organization and community well. Tyrize will help further our work in making our outstanding park system accessible and in service to all residents of Minneapolis.”

The Park Board’s Recreation Division provides expertise to lead, provide and create affordable recreational, cultural, educational, and leisure opportunities to benefit and enhance the lives of all Minneapolis residents. The division oversees recreation facility operations, including recreation centers, golf courses, aquatic facilities and beaches, ice arenas, cross-country skiing venues, and the Wirth Winter Recreation Area; recreation, education, and interpretive programming; use and event permitting; and athletic fields and complexes. The Recreation Division also provides support to the Recreation Committee of the Board of Commissioners.

A life-long resident of Minneapolis, Cox brings leadership and community and relationship building experience to the MPRB. Since 2011, Cox worked in the Office of Family Engagement and Community Partnerships at Saint Paul Public School, most recently as director. Prior to her time with Saint Paul Public Schools, Cox also worked with Minneapolis Public Schools, Robbinsdale Area Schools and the Minneapolis YMCA. Cox is currently Vice Chair of the Minnesota Educational Equity Partnership and sits of the Board of Directors of Resource, Inc., a nonprofit which assists people with employment, recovery from chemical dependency and mental illness.

“I’m thrilled to join such a team of experienced and passionate people,” Cox said. “I’m honored to be a part of the greatest parks and recreation system in the country and proud to serve the community I live in.”

Minneapolis Edges out St. Paul for Nation’s Best Park System Honor

The following article by Eric Best was published in the June 2 -15, 2016 issue of the Southwest Journal.

Minneapolis Edges out St. Paul for Nation’s Best Park System Honor

Minneapolis park officials celebrated a No. 1 ranking from The Trust for Public Land both this and last year. Photo courtesy of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Minneapolis park officials celebrated a No. 1 ranking from The Trust for Public Land both this and last year.

The Minneapolis park system is once again the country’s best, inching passed St. Paul, which took second place.

Last year the Twin Cities tied for the top spot in The Trust for Public Land’s ParkScore Index. This year’s index, released May 26, once again gave a perfect score to Minneapolis’ park system.

To continue reading, click on the link to the Southwest Journal

Park Board Selects Officers, Committees, Representatives for 2016

The MPRB issued the following press release on January 6, 2016.
 
Park Board Selects Officers, Committees, Representatives for 2016

 

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) held its annual meeting Monday, January 4, and elected its officers for 2016.

Commissioners re-elected Liz Wielinski as President and Scott Vreeland as Vice President.
To access the complete press release click on the following link  full news release 

2016 MPRB Budget

The following press release has been issued by the Park Board.

2016 MPRB Budget

On Wednesday, Dec. 9, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) approved its 2016 budget for the park system, which serves more than 22 million visits annually. The budget focuses on sound fiscal management, addresses increased park use and demands for programs and services, is responsive to changing demographics and needs of the community, and maintains the park system within available resources.

The MPRB’s 2016 Budget totals $70,982,445 for the general operating fund, $1,743,242 for the special revenue fund dedicated to trees, $9,468,696 for the enterprise operating fund and $21,697,600 for capital project funding.  In 2016, of every dollar Minneapolis residents pay for property taxes, eight cents will go to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

The 2016 budget and all related documents are available at www.minneapolisparks.org/budget or by calling 612-230-6400 between 8 am–4:30 pm, Monday–Friday.

This fall, Commissioners also discussed the “Closing the Gap: Investing in Neighborhood Parks” report that stressed the need to address the growing funding shortfall for neighborhood park capital and maintenance. Commissioners are expected to make a decision in January 2016 regarding a solution for neighborhood park funding.

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Read the full news release on our website.

“Closing the Gap: Insider Insights for Park Funding” explores neighborhood park funding strategies in other cities

The following item has been distributed by the MPRB.

“Closing the Gap: Insider Insights for Park Funding” explores neighborhood park funding strategies in other cities

“Closing the Gap: Insider Insights for Park Funding” looks at neighborhood park funding

Closing the Gap forum

(L to R) Panel moderator Linda Mack, New York City Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Liam Kavanagh, Portland Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Warren Jimenez, Former Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Director Joe Wynns and Seattle Parks Foundation Executive Director Thatcher Bailey

How did other cities address neighborhood park funding shortfalls?

Closing the Gap Insider Insights crowd

Park advocates from across the country share their experiences


Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff hosted more than 30 public meetings throughout Minneapolis this summer to discuss how insufficient funding has impacted its highly-used, aging network of neighborhood parks.

While MPRB processes feedback received from the community, four distinguished park and recreation advocates from large urban park agencies across the country were invited to Minneapolis on September 29 to share how their cities tackled similar funding challenges.

“Closing the Gap: Insider Insights for Park Funding” featured representatives from Indianapolis, New York City, Portland and Seattle participating in a 90-minute panel discussion on creative park funding strategies, followed by a question and answer session with the audience. Each city’s park agency deals with its own unique challenges, complicated by vastly different methods of governance, but common themes still emerged.

For a full recap of the fascinating discussion please see the full news release.

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Watch a video of the forum

Superintendent Presents Proposed 2016 MPRB Budget

The Park Board has issued the following item.

Superintendent Presents Proposed 2016 MPRB Budget

 

Public comment opportunities scheduled Nov. 4 and 18, Dec. 2 and 9

 

Because of your interest in the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), we want you to know that MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller presented her recommended 2016 budget at tonight’s Board meeting and that there are opportunities to review and comment on it.

The Superintendent’s Recommended 2016 Budget focuses on sound fiscal management, addresses increased park use and demands for programs and services, is responsive to changing demographics and needs of the community, and maintains the park system within available resources.

Opportunities for public comment are scheduled for November 4 and 18, and December 2 at MPRB Headquarters, and December 9 at Minneapolis City Hall.

Prior to her recommended 2016 budget presentation to the Board, Miller presented a report on “Closing the Gap: Investing in Neighborhood Parks” that stressed the need to address the growing funding shortfall for neighborhood park capital and maintenance.

For full details about Proposed 2016 Budget public comment opportunities, 2016 budget initiatives and the Closing the Gap report, read the full news release on our website.

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Budget Presentation

The proposed budget and related documents are available for viewing at www.minneapolisparks.org/budget or by calling 612-230-6400 between 8 am and 4:30 pm.

Closing the Gap Presentation

The Closing the Gap: Investing in Neighborhood Parks report and related documents presented to commissioners October 21 are available atwww.minneapolisparks.org/closingthegap.

 

Reminder: Public Forum on Park Funding on September 29

Reminder: Public Forum on Park Funding on September 29

The Park Board has issued the following press release.

MPRB to Host Closing the Gap: Insider Insights for Park Funding

Minneapolis’ neighborhood parks are at a critical juncture. Funding reductions have left a multi-million dollar gap in the resources needed to program, operate, repair and improve these highly used and aging neighborhood parks. Park systems across the country are facing similar issues. But older park systems with aging structures and features, like Minneapolis, may have the most difficult challenge of all.

On Tuesday, September 29 from 6–8:30 pm, join the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board at a public forum at the Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave. to hear how cities with valued park systems have tackled this funding challenge

Panel members include:

  • Thatcher Bailey, Executive Director, Seattle Parks Foundation
  • Joe Wynns, Former Director, Indianapolis Parks and Recreation
  • Warren Jimenez, Assistant Director of Portland Parks and Recreation
  • Liam Kavanaugh, First Deputy Commissioner at New York City Parks and Recreation

Architecture critic Linda Mack will serve as moderator.

September 29 public forum on funding neighborhood parks is co-sponsored by City Park Alliance and the McKnight Foundation.

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 Read the full news release on our website.

 

Reminder: Final city-wide Closing the Gap meetings resume next week

the Gap

Reminder: Final city-wide Closing the Gap meetings resume next week

Residents invited to help plan the future of
Minneapolis Parks

On Monday, Sept. 21, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) will hold the next series of city-wide meetings to share information and gather feedback on what may be the most comprehensive planning effort in its 130 year history. Minneapolis residents are encouraged to get involved and help the MPRB with three distinct, yet deeply intertwined projects: Closing the Gap: Investing in our Neighborhood Parks, RecQuest, and Service Area Master Plans.

RecQuest and Service Area Master Plans focus on what Minneapolis residents want in parks over the next 25 to 30 years. Closing the Gap is about funding these needs.

The final “wrap-up” meetings will continue throughout September.

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Read the full news release on our website.