Howe playground moved farther away from street

School district withdraws variance request, CUP approved

by Tesha M. Christensen

Minneapolis Public Schools (MSP) has decided to put the playground at Howe in a new location in order to avoid requesting a variance from the city.

However, the playground will still be located in the northeast side of the paved area and won’t take away from either the grassy playing field or the front lawn space.

Community members had expressed their support for the playing fields at Howe, and asked that they not be infringed upon.

The initial plan for the renovation at Howe School that was presented during a public meeting on Sept. 17, 2012 included rebuilding the playground in the same space it used to be in. However, to do that the school district needed a variance from the city because it fell within 20 feet of 44th Ave. S.

According to Howe School Project Specialist Jane Thompson, “We were advised that cost to the property owner (MPS) was not sufficient reason to grant a variance. Therefore, a revised plan for the playground area has been made.”

The size of the rubberized playground area is 50 feet by 70 feet. This is slightly smaller than the current area, but more efficient as it is rectangular in geometry, observed Thompson.

Neither the west parking lot nor the service vehicle safety zone have been compromised by the revised location of the playground.

Additionally, the school district is considering new lights that will be directed away from the property line towards the play equipment.

The change to the playground will cost the district $70-80,000 more than the first plan because the school won’t be able to reuse the existing concrete border and ground cover.

The conditional use permit for the school renovation was approved by the Minneapolis City Council on Oct. 1.

“Thank you to all that provided input at the community meeting, school meetings, by email or through your comment cards. Your voices were heard and the children will have both an athletic field and a playground with the new site plan,” said Thompson.