Residents call for compromise at Hiawatha Golf Course

On July 25, the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners passed a resolution directing CAC members to reduce pumping at the golf course while also maintaining a minimum 9-hole course. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

After four years of disagreement, some are optimistic and others apprehensive about new Park Board direction

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Neighborhood residents are being asked to compromise and come together over the Hiawatha Golf Course after four years of disagreement.
Standish resident and Hiawatha Golf Course Community Advisory Committee (CAC) member Sean Connaughty pointed out that compromise was achieved by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) commissioners during a 6-2 vote on July 25.
“Although it gives nobody everything they want, it meets the basic needs of all constituents including Lake Hiawatha. Homes will be protected, climate resiliency restored, pollution mitigated and the golf course preserved as a 9-hole course,” observed Connaughty.
“Picture an ecologically run 9-hole course, which maintains the key community asset of Hiawatha Golf Course in a reduced pumping scenario, honors the African American history and provides habitat and public access to spaces unusable for golf.
“I am just one person in this community and an appointee on the CAC, but I accept this compromise,” Connaughty said. “Let’s get excited about the near future. May the CAC move forward now with the business of the master-planning process.”
Photo right: Some wetland areas already exist on the golf course land, including this pond in the northwest corner. Under the reduced pumping scenario, lowland areas of the course will be flooded and unsuitable for golf. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Last year commissioners directed the CAC to begin a master planning process for the golf course property. Some CAC members felt that their official charge was not specific enough, and asked that the board, which had changed following the 2017 election, look at the issue again.
The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners did that on July 25 and passed a resolution directing CAC members to reduce pumping at the golf course while also maintaining a minimum 9-hole course. Voting in favor were Commissioners Stephanie Musich, Meg Forney, Letrisha Vetaw, Jono Cowgill, Chris Meyer, Brad Bourn; voting against were Londel French and Kale Severson; AK Hassan was absent.
The golf course is currently pumping 242 million gallons of water each year in a circular fashion to keep water from flooding the course, which sits two feet below the lake, although it only has a permit through the Minnesota DNR for 36.5 million for irrigation. Commissioners directed CAC members to reduce pumping by 70% to 94 million gallons.
The revised compromise resolution was drafted by new At-Large Commissioner Vetaw, who resides in Southeast Minneapolis.
Some optimistic
According to District 5 Commissioner Musich, “I am optimistic that the public planning process utilized by the MPRB will be able to proceed in a productive way now that the new board has reaffirmed the decision made by the previous board.
“The adopted resolution respects the past while considering the future of this park land and the need to design an ecologically diverse landscape that reduces pumping while protecting nearby homes from groundwater intrusion, and is resilient to the impacts of climate change.”
Musich pointed out that the property will continue to be operated as it is today until a master plan is adopted by the board and ready to be implemented. The park’s planning division estimates the process, including procuring funds, will take at least five years.
Ryan Seibold of Friends of Lake Hiawatha is pleased with the park board decision.
“I think it is wonderful that plans will prioritize cleaning up the water, adding more habitat for wildlife, and restoring ecosystems in our city and neighborhood,” said Seibold. “The decision to redesign this public space to be flood-resilient and ecologically-driven is the most sustainable decision the board could make. Protecting our water resources and dealing with climate change is important now and in the future. As a community member, I hope that the CAC as a whole will collaborate effectively with the park board on this positive direction forward.”
Some apprehensive
However, some community members remain apprehensive.
“As someone who lives in a former wetland area that has been developed for residential purposes and has personally experienced the cost of fluctuating groundwater levels, I am apprehensive to say that adding more water to an area, allowing it to go back to its natural state, is a good idea—especially, when you are now taking away a floodplain (Hiawatha Golf Course) that has historically protected the area,” stated CAC member Joan Soholt, who resides near Lake Nokomis.
“The concern that was expressed at the meeting is that we do not understand the hydrology in the neighborhood adequately to understand with high enough certainty to assure that pumping at the golf course will impact that water levels in the neighborhood,” pointed out Dana Lonn, an engineer who lives between Nokomis and Mother lakes and supports keeping the 18-hole golf course.
“There is a significant concern that reduced pumping will result in a further raising of the water table which put some homes at risk. Some of the park commissioners see the issue as a very narrow decision as whether we are pumping only to save the golf course. The decision may be that narrow. However, a number of the commissioners and many in the neighborhood see the decision to be much more complex than that,” said Lonn. “We are advocating for a more comprehensive study to understand the implications of reduced pumping at the golf course.”
Residents associated with the Nokomis/Hiawatha Water Sustainability group are asking for an unbiased study from United States Geological Society (USGS) to more fully understand the interrelated issues of water management in the area.
This issue is being evaluated by the Lake Nokomis Groundwater and Surface Water technical team, which is composed of representatives from the city, the park board, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.
Lonn worked for Toro Company in Bloomington for 48 years and was connected to the golf industry. “The MPRB has not done their homework on the impact of a golf property,” Lonn maintained. “Properly managed golf is an environmental asset to the community. The view by many is that it is a toxic waste dump. That is just not true.”

Over 1,500 people plant 300 trees at Lake Hiawatha on Arbor Day

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
To celebrate Arbor Day 2017, over 1,500 people planted 300 trees at Lake Hiawatha Park.
The location was chosen, in part, because of the highly engaged community that cares about its parks and trees.
“Having that many more trees means more water is being filtered through the root systems and a certain amount of water is being absorbed, which will create a more resilient landscape and mitigate flooding somewhat,” remarked Ryan Seibold of Friends of Lake Hiawatha, which has advocated for a cleaner lake.
“The trees are also habitat for the many species that depend on a thriving ecosystem. The trees will also create a more scenic environment that the community can enjoy and provide cooler spaces to be in the summer. When the city invests in the environment, we can expect that the community will be happier and healthier.”
The Apr. 28 event included an Arborist Show and Tell, bucket truck rides, rope-and-saddle tree climbing supervised by professional arborists, tree-sized lawn games, tree-themed obstacle course/Nature Play Zone, tree swing, pop-up library with Hennepin County Library, an exhibit about invasive species and trees, bounce house, Heritage Tree Bike Ride, and Arbor Day Fun Run.
Photo right: People for Parks donated $15,000 to the Arbor Day event at Lake Hiawatha. “People for Parks originated in 1977 in response to the Dutch Elm Disease outbreak so being tree stewards has been an integral part of our mission for 40 years,” said People for Parks Executive Director Chriss Joyce. “People for Parks is the only grassroots non-profit that takes individual donations and turns that into funding for special projects and programs right in your backyard. We pride ourselves on bringing people from different generations, ethnic, and social economic backgrounds together to create more joy, love, and peace instead of anger, fear, and hate.” In celebration of its 40th anniversary, People for Parks has allocated $20,000 in matched funding to its mini-grant program. Every dollar donated to the mini-grant program in 2017 will be equally matched. (Photo courtesy of People for Parks)
There were also musical performances by School House Rocks and Twin Town Blasting Corps (a blend of May Day Parade’s Your Community Band with members of the Brass Messengers and Arborators), food trucks and a beer garden.
All proceeds from the beer garden, coffee sales, and the Beer Run were donated to Brewing a Better Forest for Urban Forestry Outreach. With the logo, “water a tree, beer for free,” Brewing a Better Forest partners with local breweries to reward tree watering adopters with free beer tokens.
Helping sponsor the event were People for Parks, Brewing a Better Forest and Pat’s Tap. Community supporters and volunteers included Friends of Lake Hiawatha, Giving Tree Gardens, Harmony Tree, Free Forest School and Ecological Design.
Photo left: MPRB arborists Jason Hendrickson (front) and Nicholas Hart help children and adults plant trees during the Arbor Day event at Lake Hiawatha on April 28, 2017. Over 300 trees were planted at the park that day. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
People for Parks donated $15,000 to the Arbor Day event at Lake Hiawatha. According to People for Parks Executive Director Chriss Joyce, trees help combat climate change, clean the air, provide oxygen, cool city streets, prevent soil erosion and water pollution, shield children from ultra-violet rays, provide food and heal. They also increase property values and business traffic.
Previous Arbor Day plantings have been funded in Logan Park, St. Anthony Park, East Phillips Park,
Pearl Park, Jordan Park, Victory Memorial Drive, Thomas Lowry Park, and Folwell Park.
Citywide, 10,000 trees will be planted by Minneapolis Parks and Recreation this year in parks and along boulevards, many replacing trees lost to Emerald Ash Borer, pointed out arborist Jason Hendrickson. Varieties planted include pine, spruce, fir, linden, Ginko, honey locust, river birch, Kentucky Coffeetree, magnolia, London Planetree, basswood, hickory, and oak.
Varieties planted include pine, spruce, fir, linden, Ginko, honey locust, river birch, Kentucky Coffeetree, magnolia, London Planetree, basswood, hickory, and oak.
Nut and fruit trees include serviceberry, three varieties of crabapple (Centennial, Dolgo, and Chestnut), Turkish filbert/hazelnut, and pine nut. The soil around the fruit trees was treated with a mycorrhizal fungi inoculum treatment thanks to Russ Henry of Giving Tree Gardens. “The tree and fungi will form a symbiotic relationship underground, and they will exchange valuable nutrients with each other—sugars, water, minerals,” said Seibold, “and fungi provide the trees some protection against disease.”
Seibold loves the cherry trees planted along the walking path.
“I immediately envisioned people picking a free and healthy snack while taking in the view of the lake and Minneapolis skyline on a nearby park bench,” said Seibold, who has proposed establishing a food forest at the Hiawatha Golf Course. “I counted about ten cherry trees, so hopefully there will be enough to make a cherry pie someday, and maybe we can make a fun community event around harvesting cherries.
“It was also really exciting to see native bees buzzing all around them as they were flowering. Our food system depends on pollinators, and growing food in our parks is an amazing opportunity to raise awareness of this important connection.”
Photo right: Keewaydin resident Charlie Krocak, age three and a half, climbs a tree during the Arbor Day event at Lake Hiawatha Park on April 28, 2017. He was assisted by MPRB arborist John Elward. “It’s so much fun,” said his father, Brent. “The kids love climbing trees. It’s great for them to be able to do it safely.” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
There is interest in planting a Three Sisters garden, an Indigenous garden technique planting corn, beans, and squash, so they work together to thrive much like the food forest concept, pointed out Seibold. There is also interest in planting Pollinator Patches that are offered free from the city of Minneapolis. On May 25, MPRB held an open house to gather input on modifying the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park plan to designate urban agriculture areas.
“It would be amazing to see a continuous naturalized landscape around the whole lake with these interconnected human and wildlife ecosystems integrated throughout,” remarked Seibold.
“We’re getting closer to a healthier Lake Hiawatha.”

If there is no Hiawatha Golf Course, what do residents want there?

The Park Board continues to evaluate whether it will keep the golf course running. Exercise prompts residents to consider the sorts of amenities they would support at Hiawatha Golf Course if the pumps are shut off.

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
If Hiawatha Golf Course doesn’t remain a golf course, what would residents like to see on the land?
That was the question posed during a community meeting at Nokomis Recreation Center on Apr. 20.
In general, attendees supported natural areas and active, multi-generational uses that aren’t found in nearby parks. Many supported the continuation of golf in some form, whether it be a top golf-style driving range, nine-hole golf course or three-hole learning center.
Because of the size residents support a multi-use area that encourages recreation and exercise, while factoring in environmental impacts. Some named cross-country ski trails, a bike park, archery range, ropes and skills course, and open space as positive amenities for the area.
“This is a huge property, and it should be used for things that need a big area. Small activities can be housed at any park. Golf needs a large space, and as much of the property needs to be devoted to golf. Agriculture can take place at distributed park sites and does not need to be housed at the golf course,” wrote one person who left a comment card.
Photo right: Attendees at an April community meeting regarding the Hiawatha Golf Course were asked to share their opinions on what they’d like to see at the golf course property if the pumps were shut off. They were encouraged to consider how the uses benefit immediate neighbors and park users, as well as what it offered the Nokomis-Hiawatha regional park community. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
However, some did express support for urban agriculture at the property, as well as pollinator gardens, a beekeeping space, deep winter greenhouses, and prairie/wetland restoration.
“What an incredible opportunity we have to create/restore something unique for all generations to follow, for the nonhuman creatures and systems that depend upon this space. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity to restore our little section of the planet,” wrote one person.
Others discussed how important it was to have a trail that went around the entire lake, and how other amenities such as an amphibian education trail, fitness trail, viewing platforms and public art could be worked into that.
“We really want a trail all the way around the lake,” wrote one resident. “It would be great to have it be ADA accessible with fitness trail elements. A climbing wall, ropes and skills course, and a nature playground would be really nice to have. They are very popular with parents and children. There is no other bike/BMX trail/park around.”
Another wrote, “The golf course as it exists now is antithetical to other uses—especially cross-country ski trails, sledding, and hiking (during golf season). If the solution includes golf, the golf uses must be friendly to, and share the park well with, other uses.”
There were those who supported an outdoor gathering space, brewpub or restaurant, food truck area, and event space, and others who pushed for more passive uses and a quieter park.
All of the comments, ideas and possible layouts left by attendees can be viewed on the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) project page.
Golf still an option
MPRB continues to move ahead on evaluating options for the Hiawatha Golf Course, with plans to pinpoint a direction by July 2017.
MPRB Assistant Superintendent of Planning Michael Schroeder explained that if the annual pumping of 242 million gallons of groundwater and 66 million gallons of stormwater continues, there will be no change at the golf course.
“If we’re told to stop pumping, something else needs to happen at the property,” said Schroeder, which prompted the Apr. 20 exercise.
The volume of water being pumped from Hiawatha Golf Course is far greater than allowed by a permit issued by the DNR in 1993 for 36.5 million gallons. About 105 million gallons a year are being pumped in a little circle, seeping from the ponds into Lake Hiawatha and back into the ponds.
MPRB is also factoring in whether nearby residences need the pumping to continue to avoid flooding in their basements, and how to capture trash from the watershed before it enters Lake Hiawatha, Schroeder said.
“Could we lower the lake?” asked Schroeder. He answered, “Technically, we could do it. But we can solve most of the problems using other less expensive solutions.”
What’s next?
Since the last public meeting, staff and consultants have further evaluated options for water management and use of the Hiawatha Golf Course property. The range of options has been narrowed to two directions—one that maintains the current volume of pumping and retains the 18-hole golf course, and one that reduces the volume of pumping while introducing other recreation activities to the property. Potential activities in a reduced pumping scenario draw upon input offered by participants at the April 20 meeting.
The DNR supports the option that reduces the pumping by 70% and closes the golf course.
A more detailed description of each option, including ecological, recreational, economic, and other factors, was shared at a public meeting on May 18 (which missed the June Messenger deadline and will appear in the next edition).

Minneapolis discovers golf course pumping groundwater out because Lake Hiawatha is at higher elevation than course

Data leaves MPRB with more questions and puts golf course improvements on hold

by Tesha M. Christensen

The hundreds of local residents who packed inside the Lake Nokomis Community Center on Tuesday night, Sept. 15, 2015 expected to be sharing their opinions on three concepts for the Hiawatha Golf Course.

Instead, they learned that everything at the golf course is currently on hold.

On Friday, the city of Minneapolis shared information with the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) from a preliminary study that shows groundwater issues at the golf course.

It suggests that 273.6 million gallons of groundwater are being pumped from the golf course each year.

This is not water from a rainstorm or water running into the course from the city’s stormwater system. Nor is it water coming from Minnehaha Creek on the south side. Instead, this is shallow groundwater that exists on the site, always sitting just beneath the ground surface.

“The volume of groundwater being pumped from this site to enable a game to be played is shocking, and will take time to process and understand,” stated MPRB District 5 Commissioner Steffanie Musich.

“No doubt like many of you, I am still struggling to understand what this means for the course and this project as a whole.”

MPRB has been working to improve the golf course with plans to complete the project in 2016. Part of the work will be paid for by $1.2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds following the storm damage in the summer of 2014 that was the worst at the course since 1987.

The back nine holes at the golf course have been closed since the flooding, and will remain so as the MPRB doesn’t want to jeopardize its FEMA funding by doing any work there, said Assistant Superintendent of Planning Michael Schroeder.

WATER MAY LIMIT USE AT SITE

While MPRB had considered canceling the Sept. 15 public meeting, they chose to share this new information with attendees and answer questions as staff was able, according to Schroeder

Initial data shows that the infiltration rate at one of the five ponds at the Hiawatha Golf Course is 1.16 cubic foot per second (CFS). While Schroder acknowledged that 1 cubic foot per second seems small, it becomes concerning when you add up how much that is per minute, per hour, per day or per year.

A dimensional analysis of this figure suggests that 273.6 million gallons of groundwater are being pumped off the course each year to make it playable. The pumps run constantly.

“That’s the number that concerns us,” said Schroeder.

He pointed out that amounts to 15-16 inches covering the entire 640-acre Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park.

Additionally, the study shows that the ponds are 4 feet lower than the water level of Lake Hiawatha.

The elevation of Lake Hiawatha is 812.2 feet, the fairways are at 810 feet and the ponds are at 808 feet.

MPRB does not yet know whether the water levels would even out if they stopped pumping the groundwater from the ponds, but that is a question they are looking for an answer to, said Schroeder.

The golf course currently has a permit from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to pump 38.5 million gallons of groundwater to use to irrigate the golf course, which is far below how much is being pumped.

At nearby Lake Nokomis, the elevation level of the lake is higher than that of the ponds. When it rains, the ponds fill and then overflow into the lake, according to Musich.

They had assumed the same thing was happening at Lake Hiawatha.

“While the park planning process from the public view can seem unnecessarily cumbersome and long, ensuring that our planning process includes due diligence to validate assumptions uncovers issues and stumbling blocks early, allowing for a successful project in the long run for generations of Minneapolitans to come,” said Musich.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH

When asked by attendees at the Sept. 15 meeting why this information was just discovered, Schroeder explained that part of its planning process for the Hiawatha Golf Course is involving the city of Minneapolis and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. Each entity has been compiling information and completing studies. MPRB received information from the city last Friday that came from a consultant hired by the city.

This initial data, collected as part of a report expected to be presented to the Park Board and city in November, suggests that the groundwater volume is greater than previously understood and may pose limitations for how the golf course land can be used in the future.

“The future park and rec uses of this site are unknown, but I can assure you, this land will remain parkland even if golf is no longer a viable use of this space,” promised Musich.

It’s no longer just about how MPRB can accommodate golf, said Schroder.

However, he assured the crowd that MPRB is still committed finding a way to accommodate golf as the primary activity at this site, as well as bettering the water ecology, addressing the trash coming in the city’s stormwater culvert on the north side, and including non-golf activities.

“We are trying to look at this in a very holistic way,” stated Schroeder, one that doesn’t waste millions of taxpayer dollars when the course floods again.

Several residents stressed that golfers won’t be interested in using Hiawatha unless it is an 18-hole course. Schroeder acknowledged that the city recognizes the viewpoint of golfers.

He added that by simply reconfiguring the golf course, MPRB can deal with many of the water and trash issues, which earned a round of clapping from the crowd.

Schroder also pointed out that 15% of the city’s population, or 60,000 people, golf, and the MPRB sees the value of this recreational use for residents.

“We’re trying to find a solution - as crazy as it might seem - to keep everybody happy,” said Schroeder.

GOLF USAGE GOING BACK UP

According to MPRB Director of Golf Keith Kainy, golf usage in Minneapolis has been rebounding since a nationwide low during the recession of 2008/09. He also pointed out that what astounds him is Hiawatha is one of the few golf courses he knows of that didn’t take a drop in rounds during the recession.

Schroeder did note that the MPRB is making changes to ensure that its golf courses, including Meadowbrook farther upstream, are self-sustaining in the future. While 15 years ago, the city’s golf courses made $1,845,849, in 2013, they lost over half a million dollars, according to a report prepared last year by Golf Convergence for the Park Board.

GOLF COURSE USEFUL FOR FLOODWATER STORAGE

Lake Hiawatha, originally called Rice Lake, was formerly a wetland. It was dredged in the 1920s to create a lake and the golf course was built with the fill material.

Attendees at the Tuesday night meeting recalled swimming in the lake as children when it was 35 feet deep, compared to the 8-9-feet-deep it is now.

One resident suggested that the creek is adding too sediment to the lake, and he advocated for blocking the lake off from Minneahaha Creek.

“You disconnect the creek from the lake and you get a more polluted lake,” said Minnehaha Watershed District Board Vice President Brian Shekleton. He explained that if the pollution entering the lake from the city’s stormwater culvert had no way to leave the lake, it would get more concentrated.

Another resident suggested that the outflow be increased to allow more water to flow out of the lake.

Skekleton observed that this will result in basements flooding downstream, which is why the Watershed District was created 50 years ago to prevent.

“The golf course is a better place for flood waters to be stored than neighborhood streets,” said Schroeder.

Lisa Cerney, director of surface water and sewers for the Public Works Department in Minneapolis, stressed that “the groundwater is not new water to this system. It is existing water there already.”

Skekleton remarked that they may be able to increase the storage capacity of the creek during storms by remeandering it. This is what is being done upstream in Hopkins and St. Louis Park. By putting the creek back where it was in the 1920s and 30s, they are slowing the speed of the water to prevent sediment build-up and increasing the capacity to hold water from storms.Through various measures upstream, they will reduce stormwater run-off by one-third.

CAN TRASH FROM STREETS BE PREVENTED?

Some at the meeting pushed for a solution to the trash problem around the city’s stormwater culvert on the north side, and asked that the MPRB allow neighborhood resident Sean McConnaughy to implement a short-term solution this fall.

The stormwater culvert there drains the area south from Lake Street.

Schroeder responded that he have an answer to that question.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

MPRB will continue to solicit comments from community members about what they’d like to see at the golf course. Comment online at minneapolisparks.org/currentprojects.

After more data is collected, MPRB will hold another community meeting to share information. Schroeder expects that to be within the next 2 to 3 months.

Following that, MPRB will proceed with concept plans once more, and will know whether the timeline for work in 2016 is still feasible.

This story appeared in the October 2015 Messenger.

View Lake Hiawatha garbage during art exhibit at The Sandbox

by Tesha M. Christensen

 As a child, Sean Connaughty watched the destruction of habitat in his hometown of Eden Prairie, and he felt helpless to stop it.

“This sense of loss has informed my work as an artist throughout my career,” remarked Connaughty, who resides in the Standish-Ericcson neighborhood and teaches art at the University of Minnesota.

Today, he’s working to improve the water quality of not only his neighborhood lake, Lake Hiawatha, but also the entire system further downstream.

Connaughty knows that change will only occur if he can inspire others to join the cause.

As part of his campaign to clean Lake Hiawatha, he is working with colleagues Annette Walby, Craig Johnson and others to create an art exhibition in the neighborhood.

The exhibition will be an archaeological survey of Lake Hiawatha.

Connaughty has worked with archaeologist Carol Nordstrom to sort and quantify six of the 62 bags of trash that he has collected since May.

“This is yielding fascinating results and will hopefully educate viewers about the problem and mobilize the community to advocate for changes in Hiawatha’s storm sewer infrastructure,” said Connaughty.

“The exhibition exposes the astonishing range of discarded materials that make their way to the lake.”

A reception for “Lake Hiawatha” (anthropocenic midden survey) will be held on Sept. 11 from 5-9 p.m. at the Sandbox Theatre (3109 E 42nd St.).

“I love this lake and the incredible variety of wildlife that live there and use the lake as a migratory stop,” explained Connaughty. “Continually increasing amounts of trash and pollution threaten this habitat, and its resident wildlife.”

When Longfellow resident Annette Walby learned about what Connaughty was doing, she wanted to help.

“This is a problem that affects the health of our community, as well as the wildlife that uses the lake as habitat,” said Walby, who is an artist and landscape architect. “The watershed area that includes Lake Hiawatha is vitally important to water quality in the city of Minneapolis including what, in the big picture, is downstream: the Mississippi River and beyond.

“Our communities need to know how our actions determine not just our communities’ health but, the health of our neighbors.”

For fellow collaborator Craig Johnson a sign of a community’s health is tied to the health of their environment.

“You can’t separate the two if you tried,” said Johnson, a sustainability designer with Agency F Design. “In a larger sense, what we do in Minnesota—at least at this latitude—affects communities down stream all the way to New Orleans. Lake Hiawatha empties into Minnehaha Creek and eventually into the Mississippi.”

As a whitewater kayaker, Johnson has become sick from contamination in Minnesota rivers.

“I know that the quality of our water affects us in many ways,” said Johnson.

Picking up trash and then seeing it come back over and over again is frustrating, Johnson confided. But it has spurred him into helping with this effort to rid Lake Hiawatha of the garbage, most of it coming in through the city’s stormwater culvert on the north side.

“Minnesota has a great gift of abundant lakes and streams; we shouldn’t squander this, we should all be working harder to protect it,” said Johnson.

“Our water is part of our identity as Minnesotans.”

He is hopeful that those who view the art exhibit will be inspired to make changes.

“We hope to move this from a problem toward a lasting solution that will be embraced by the community,” stated Johnson.

This story appeared in the September 2015 Messenger.

Lake Hiawatha’s trash problem

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will re-imagine Hiawatha Golf Course and help fix garbage problem; weigh in on golf course designs on Sept. 15

by Tesha M. Christensen

Since May, Standish-Ericsson resident Sean Connaughty has removed 62 bags of garbage from Lake Hiawatha.

That’s over 1,500 pounds of plastic cups and bottles, snack wrappers, cellophane, cigarette butts and more.

It doesn’t count the invisible pollutants such as lawn fertilizers and herbicides, ice-melting salt and automotive pollution that are washed into Lake Hiawatha and from there into Minnehaha Creek, the Mississippi River and the city’s drinking water.

“With each bag of trash there are 1-4 syringes. I also regularly remove condoms and diapers, to name a few of the disturbing items,” said Connaughty.

“In addition to the environmental and ecosystem damage this is causing, it also poses a public health risk,” Connaughty pointed out. “With items such as syringes, diapers, condoms and all manner of pollutants regularly entering the lake, it is no surprise that there are regular beach closings due to high bacteria levels.”

The urge to pick up trash as he was walking his dog twice a day around the 55-acre lake began simply enough, but as Connaughty’s concern about water quality grew it has propelled him into a larger fight.

“Despite my best efforts to clean the lake and the efforts of the recent Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) organized clean-up, the lake is once again full of trash from recent rainfalls,” observed Connaughty.

LESSON FROM A GREEN BALL

Along the way, Connaughty learned an important lesson from a green golf-ball-size ball.

Connaughty marked the ball and then dropped it into the storm drain. Two weeks later, he found the ball among the debris clogging the lake around the storm sewer culvert on the north side.

“The storm sewer outfall on the north side of the lake is emptying enormous amounts of trash and pollution into the lake with every rainfall,” Connaughty remarked.

While many have believed that Minnehaha Creek is the primary source of pollution in the lake, Connaughty’s day-to-day observation of where trash is located has shown that the storm sewer outfall is the bigger problem.

Connaughty learned that this drainage system, going directly into the lake, includes a huge swath of South Minneapolis. “It drains debris, trash and other pollutants from our streets coming all the way from Chicago Ave. to the west and Lake St. to the north,” he observed. “This storm drain system has no filtration or mitigation at all.”

To share this knowledge with fellow residents, Connaughty began stenciling gutters with the outline of a fish and the reminder: “Please do not pollute, drains to the Mississippi River.” Connaughty has personally stenciled 175 gutters, and he was joined by a group in August organized by the Standish-Ericcson Neighborhood Association.

HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM

In addition to spreading the word about the pollution problem, Connaughty is pursuing other methods to prevent trash from entering Lake Hiawatha, Minnehaha Creek and the Mississippi River.

He’s begun lobbying local political organizations, including the Minneapolis City Council, MCWD, and Minneapolis Parks and Recreations for infrastructure that will filter out pollutants before they enter the lake.

Along with a few others, he has proposed building an emergency catchment in the lake surrounding the storm sewer outfall. It would be constructed of natural materials and would create a porous barrier to capture the trash at the culvert. A strong trellis-like structure could accommodate the varying conditions at the lake without restricting the flow of water.

“This would be a way to localize the trash to make it easier and presumably less expensive to clean up, rather than having the trash spread throughout the entire lake,” explained Connaughty.

The emergency catchment could be implemented immediately once they receive permission.

A permanent solution would be changing the storm sewer infrastructure to create a catchment pond that can capture debris and pollutants before they reach the lake. Other lakes have these types of filters, including the “Lake Amelia” catchment ponds nearby at Lake Nokomis. 

GOLF COURSE MEETING SET FOR SEPT. 15

The timing on Connaughty’s suggestions coincides with the Park Board’s new vision of a more natural shoreline for Lake Hiawatha following the approval of a Master Park Plan last year, and plans to modify the golf course that are underway now after last year’s flooding.

“There is currently a once-in-a-generation opportunity to alter the storm sewer system that will occur when the golf course is restructured next year,” pointed out Connaughty.

He added, “Changing the storm sewer infrastructure would dramatically improve the water quality in the lake.”

Several others agree that now is a good time to find a fix to this problem.

According to Parks and Recreation Commissioner Steffanie Musich, “The city of Minneapolis, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) have been working to identify holistic designs for the course that not only retain golf playability at the site, but also help other park users gain greater access to the lakeshore, reduce localized flooding in surrounding neighborhoods, reduce pollution entering the lake via stormwater pipes, and enhance the ecological function and storm water capacity of the creek.” 

She pointed out that improvements upstream of Lake Hiawatha, including in the pipeshed, have the potential to reduce pollutants. The golf course improvements would only be a few pieces of a larger effort the MCWD and their partners have undertaken to undo the damage done to the creek and Lake Hiawatha by development of modern storm water conveyance systems to prevent and reduce the flooding of homes and businesses in the cities the creek runs through.

A public meeting to collect feedback on the proposed designs will be held on Sept. 15, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Nokomis Recreation Center Gym.

‘RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAVE IT BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT’

MCWD Vice President Brian Shekleton praised Connaughty for doing a tremendous job expanding public knowledge about what happens to water flowing into the lake by using multiple tactics that draw attention to potential solutions. In addition to stenciling gutters, he is organizing neighborhood blocks to monitor streets for trash.

Shekleton pointed out that history and hydrology matter in understanding why Hiawatha is a polluted, or impaired, lake. A wetland complex that extended many blocks to the north and west of the lake used to filter water flowing into the lake. It’s now mostly homes in the Northrup, Bancroft, and SENA neighborhoods -- and the golf course.

“Those water-cleaning wetlands can’t be replaced but there are effective techniques to restore ecological functionality,” remarked Shekleton. “Things like filtering basins, architected wetlands, and re-meandering the creek come to mind.”

According to Shekleton, MCWD has many projects upstream that will benefit the lake, “but partnering with the MPRB and the Minneapolis gives us a chance to spend money most effectively by leveraging each organization’s specialties to better water quality in the lake,” said Shekleton.

He pointed out a similar partnership upstream that will benefit Lake Hiawatha. In St. Louis Park and Hopkins, tons of pollutants will be removed from Minnehaha Creek that now flow down downstream into Lake Hiawatha. This will happen by stopping storm pipes from dumping into the creek and filtering the storm water before the water flows into the creek.

“I’m confident we’ll make Lake Hiawatha a cleaner and healthier body of water, particularly with the addition of natural filtration ponds through the golf course; this work will also help make the surrounding neighborhoods more flood resistant by increasing stormwater storage capacity,” said Ward 12 Council Member Andrew Johnson. “I love Lake Hiawatha, and we have a responsibility to leave it better than we found it.”

CONTACT COUNCIL TO VOICE OPINION

Connaughty observed that the parks, watershed district and golf course have only recently begun to consider making changes to the infrastructure of the culvert. “Whether this plan will be adopted or not is still quite tenuous. If this major outfall going directly into the lake is not addressed the garbage and pollutants will continue to impair this critical habitat and the water quality will remain poor,” Connaughty said.

“The city is the only entity involved in the negotiations that has the sole authority to implement an infrastructure change. Therefore I recommend contacting the mayor and your councilperson to voice your opinion on this matter.”

This story appeared in the September 2015 Messenger.

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Clean-up parks on Earth Day, join Friends of Lake Hiawatha

Map from 1892. Rice Lake, a shallow marsh then, was dredged in the '20s for recreation purposes (which made it deeper for fishing/swimming/watercraft, and shrank the footprint for installation of golf course to the west), and renamed Lake Hiawatha. More old maps of the neighborhood can be found here http://www.standish-ericsson.org/historical-maps.html

By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes

April 23, 2014

Looking for some way to celebrate Earth Day locally?

The MPRB Earth Day Clean-Up has become the largest community service project in Minneapolis and takes place at nearly 40 clean-up sites throughout the city.

Head over to Sibley Park on Saturday, April 26 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. All interested volunteers should meet at Sibley Rec Center to pick up bags and select a route for the clean-up. Refreshments provided to all volunteers.

Or, go to Hiawatha Park and join the newly formed Friends of Lake Hiawatha for a clean-up from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association volunteers will have all of the bags, gloves, and tools you need to help out at the Lake Hiawatha Rec Center, outside, next to the lake. Enjoy donuts and coffee, and share your ideas for future upgrades to the park after the clean-up.

Do you have a canoe and gear? Saturday would be a great day to launch it on the lake and get to some of the hard-to-reach clean-up locations.

To find a detailed list of other Minneapolis clean-up sites, and more information, visit www.minneapolisparks.org

Friends of Lake Hiawatha forming
An informal meeting was held on Wednesday night, April 16 to learn about what residents envision for Lake Hiawatha, which was once known as Rice Lake. Also discussed was an Adopt-a-Storm-Drain program and the potential for a spring/summer workshop on rain gardens.

The Minneapolis Park & Rec Board is creating its first Master Plan for Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park. Early improvements to Nokomis–Hiawatha will be in three areas: improving non-golf-course park areas, playground upgrades, and trails and shorelines.

Recently elected SENA Board President Chris Lautenschlager is driving the Friends of Lake Hiawatha (FOLH) forward. In the latest edition of the SENA News, he wrote:

“Despite being in its early months, I envision two main components of FOLH. First, there will be community outreach: FOLH will work within our neighborhoods to explore how residents can take meaningful steps to improve the lake’s water quality. Stormwater runoff has a significant impact on the health of the water (the storm drains on your corner lead directly into either Lake Hiawatha or Minnehaha Creek), and anything to prevent noxious agents from entering stormwater runoff is a simple improvement. Reducing that runoff by promoting the installation of rain gardens or rain barrels is an example of an approach that FOLH might take.

“The second component is, dare I say, a more exciting aspect to what FOLH will work on over the next couple of years. Although not commonly regarded as such, Lake Hiawatha is actually included in what is officially known as the Nokomis–Hiawatha Regional Park. This year, the park board will begin creating its first master plan for this community asset. Unlike most other master plans—which often take years of research, coordination, and elusive dollars—this plan will follow an aggressive schedule based on dedicated funding that must be spent by June 2015 and June 2016. Early improvements to Nokomis–Hiawatha will be in three areas: improving non-golf-course park areas, playground upgrades, and trails and shorelines.

“FOLH, along with SENA, will work to actively solicit community input and energy toward the park board’s efforts. A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will convene this spring. Although the number of official members will be limited, everyone is welcome to participate in the input process at community meetings and open houses. If you want meaningful, sustained improvements to Lake Hiawatha—the most commonly cited reason for our living in this area—I strongly encourage you to be part of this master planning process.

See more at www.friendsoflakehiawatha.org

 

Published at Twin Cities Daily Planet.

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2014/04/23/clean-parks-earth-day-join-friends-lake-hiawatha

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Winter carnival on Lake Hiawatha set for Saturday

By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes

February 07, 2014

Take a hayride along the lake, warm up next to a roaring bonfire and enjoy free food at the family-friendly Lake Hiawatha Heartwarmer set for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 from 12-3 p.m.

“This is a completely free event! Come down and check us out!” urged Lake Hiawatha Park staff member Ryan Vossen.

Kids DanceDj will be providing beats. There will also be live music, prize drawings, ice skating and ice golf. Hot dogs and veggie dogs, coffee and cider offered free, along with some other local foods.

Step inside the rec center for face painting, arts and crafts, and demonstrations from local businesses like Music Together, Toddler Yoga with Tree of Life Yoga, and Musikgarten.

This completely free event is made possible through donations by individual community members and contributions by the independently owned businesses of the Standish-Ericsson, Longfellow, and Nokomis community.

More at: www.HiawathaHeart.org

Printed at Twin Cities Daily Planet. http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2014/02/07/winter-carnival-lake-hiawatha-set-saturday

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES: Hiawatha Ski Hut open on Sundays thanks to neighborhood support

By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes

January 22, 2014

Over 550 people signed a petition asking that the Minneapolis Parks Board improve the skiing experience at Lake Hiawatha Golf Course, and they responded.

Residents asked that the clubhouse be open for a few hours on weekends so that the public, especially families with children, will have a place to warm up and get refreshments after cross-country skiing, and that the 4-mile-long trail with views of the Minneapolis skyline be groomed at least twice a week.

“We made a good impression on the Park Board, and those who signed the petition made it clear they value their nordic trail at Hiawatha,” stated Matt McKinney, who helped organize the neighbors.

“The result: the Park Board agreed to lower their price for opening the clubhouse, allowing the Hiawatha Skiklubb to pay for eight Sunday afternoons of open clubhouse time from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.,” he added.

The “Ski Hut” idea is one that neighborhood ski enthusiasts John Saunders, Pete West, and Matt McKinney pitched during the SENA annual meeting. It was selected as the winning Big Idea for 2013, which came with $1,000 to be used to accomplish the goal.

Funds for opening the clubhouse will also come from the Minnesota Youth Ski League, which has a chapter operating at Hiawatha this year.

Saunders, West, and McKinney, neighborhood ski enthusiasts have already founded a children’s ski race called the “Hiawatha Hustle.”

“Also, the Park Board responded in a big way to our request for improved grooming of the Hiawatha trail, with staff now grooming the trail four times a week,” said McKinney.

“We feel the Park Board, and in particular Park Board staff member Sara Ackmann and our new Park Board commissioner Steffanie Musich, really listened to us. We hope to build on this relationship going forward to see that the trail and winter activities at Hiawatha continue to improve. My sense is that the Park Board commissioners and staff are behind us, and may even have had some plans for improvements before we all started rattling our ski poles. If you do ski at Hiawatha, be sure to throw a thanks to the groomers if you happen to see them out there. Or to Sara or Steffanie, if you feel so inclined. There's a lot of good momentum at our little neighborhood ski trail these days,” observed McKinney.

A $45 Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board fee is required to ski at the Hiawatha Golf Course for those 12 and up.

Local resident Maggie Mahoney posted online at the petition site: "I saw more people skiing at Hiawatha on 01/04/14 than I have ever seen in the 17 years I've lived in the neighborhood. Everyone I encountered asked me if I knew when the trails would be groomed again. There definitely is demand and interest!"


ABOUT THE HIAWATHA SKI TRAIL
According to the petition 500 residents signed @ http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/improve-hiawatha-nordic/:

Most ski areas talk about their trails. At Hiawatha, we talk about *the* trail, because there’s just one. It’s small, for sure, but Hiawatha is a special place to those of us who use it. The wide open spaces mean parents can easily keep an eye on their kids as everyone skis at their own pace. The gentle slopes make it an ideal place for beginners, or for those who want to try skate skiing for the first time. Experienced skiiers who live in South Minneapolis can rack up some kilometers without the longer drive over to Theodore Wirth.

It’s a special place for others, too: snowshoers, skijorers, people out for a walk with or without a dog. While it’s fantastic that Hiawatha serves all forms of winter recreation, the foot traffic chews up Hiawatha’s trail. Grooming the less-than-two-mile trail at least twice a week seems feasible, and would keep the trail in good shape for skiiers.

We also want to see the clubhouse opened to the public on weekends. It’s a fantastic asset and should be put to use. It wouldn’t take much time to create a space where neighbors could meet up, share a hot chocolate and head out onto the trail. After skiing, families and groups could spend time with each other, talking about the day while people warm up.

We talk about building community in our neighborhoods, but wintertime requires some effort. It’s a time of year when people don’t linger in their yards or on their front steps. The clubhouse, if even just for a few hours on weekend afternoons, could serve everyone in the community who wants to share a space together, catch up on neighborhood news and enjoy Minnesota’s best season.

OTHER BIG IDEA WINNERS

Of the four other ideas offered in 2013, two of them ‘won’ in a different way. After the vote, SENA staff member Shirley Yeoman announced that an anonymous donor would give $1,000 to fund a non-winning idea focused on improving the environment. “Save the Beach” and “Adopt a Storm Drain,” both of which addressed improving the water quality in Lake Hiawatha, will share in this award.

If you have interest in helping develop any of these Big Ideas, please contact the SENA office at (612) 721-1601.

PAST BIG IDEA WINNERS
In 2012 the winning Big Idea was to create an old-fashioned holiday tree lighting event. The event was a big success and SENA hosted a second event on Dec. 8, 2013. The winning idea in 2011 was to build raised garden beds at the Southside Star Community Garden to make gardening accessible to people with limited mobility.

Published at Twin Cities Daily Planet. http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2014/01/22/hiawatha-ski-hut-open-sundays-thanks-neighborhood-support

Zebra mussels found in Lake Hiawatha

‘It was inevitable’ that the invasive species make its way to Minneapolis, according to MPRB

by Tesha M. Christensen

Zebra mussels have officially infested Minneapolis waters. They have been found in Lake Hiawatha.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) water quality workers found several of the small, invasive mollusks Aug. 28 on a plate submerged in the lake as a detection device. Following that discovery, MPRB staff throughly searched both upstream and downstream to see if there were more in the city.

“Mussels were found on the underside of the Lake Hiawatha fishing dock where the sampler is located, on beach buoys, and on large rocks at a few locations just downstream of the lake – but none were found upstream to Xerxes Avenue,”observed Debra Lynn Pilger of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board.

“Some might suspect that because Lake Hiawatha sees very little boat traffic, and has no boat launch, it would be immune from this type of infestation,” observed Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association Neighborhood Coordinator Bob Kambeitz.

“But since the Minnehaha Creek flows into and out of Lake Hiawatha, it’s not surprising that zebra mussels would work their way into the lake from upstream at Lake Minnetonka.”

The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board has been expecting to find zebra mussels since 2010 when they were discovered in Lake Minnetonka and the entire watershed was declared infested. Minnehaha Creek flows from Lake Minnetonka through Lake Hiawatha to the Mississippi River, which has been designated as a zebra mussel infested water body by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR).

At the end of the 2012 sampling season, zebra mussels had made their way to Brownsdale Dam, about a mile upstream from the Minneapolis city limits.

“It was inevitable,”said Pilger. “It was just a matter of time until they got here.”

NO TREATMENT

There is no treatment for zebra mussels, according to Pilger. “We will be focusing our efforts on keeping them out of other lakes,” she said.

While the creek flows through Lake Hiawathaa, at Lake Nokomis water only flows out. According to Doug Walter of the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association, “The lake’s level is kept higher than that of the creek and excess water flows over a dam to prevent the possibility of invasive species entering Lake Nokomis.

“Up until a year or so ago, there was an inflatable bladder that automatically raised a pivoted weir (or gate, if you will) to keep the lake’s discharge above the creek.  It used a complicated system of electronic water level sensors and an air compressor with the requisite to adjust the height. However, the equipment proved trouble-prone and expensive to maintain (let alone not working during heavy storms where power was knocked out).  That was replaced with a fixed dam.”

PLAN FOR PREVENTION

Zebra mussels cause problems for both swimmers, who are cut by the sharp shells, and anglers, who lose  tackle.Groups of mussels can damage buoys, dock supports, boat parts and other underwater structures. A native to Russia, they spread easily and have few predators.

In 2012, the MPRB Board of Commission began inspecting boats at public  launches at Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun and Lake Nokomis, and placed bait disposal receptacles at many of the city’s most popular fishing spots in an attempt to block the spread of zebra mussels.

The discovery of zebra mussels in Lake Hiawatha underscores the need for continued diligence in complying with the state’s laws to prevent and curb the spread of invasive species, according to the Parks and Recreation Department.

Anglers, boaters and other recreationists must remove all aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other prohibited invasive species, drain water from all water equipment including portable bait containers, and drain bilges and livewells by removing the drain plug before leaving the boat landing.

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SIDEBAR/WEB SITE INFORMATION

ABOUT ZEBRA MUSSELS

Zebra mussels are native to freshwater lakes and rivers of southeastern Russia and traveled to the United States via ballast water in freighter ships.  They spread easily and have few predators.

Zebra mussels can easily outcompete our native mussels because they not need a larval host, and they have a much more rapid growth rate in addition to a shorter time to maturity.  In their larval stage they are able to spread by floating through the water, eventually settling on hard surfaces and reproducing after just short of a year. 

Zebra mussels can have many impacts on water bodies.  Initially, the mussels can increase the water clarity by filtering out large amounts of some types of algae.  Negative impacts can range from sharp shells collecting on beaches, growth on structures that may require cleaning, waterfowl die offs, increased blue-green algae blooms (which zebra mussels do not prefer to eat), changes in the fish community structure, and increased aquatic plant growth.

STOP THE SPREAD

To help prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species:

•            Always remember to Clean, Drain, and completely Dry any equipment moving between water bodies. 

•            Do not move equipment from Lakes Nokomis and Hiawatha to other water bodies – always move from non-infested to infested waters. 

•            Be especially conscientious about the potential of transferring AIS from the creek or Hiawatha to Lake Nokomis.

•            As buoys and structures are removed from lakes this fall, please inspect them carefully for anything that could be zebra mussels and report any findings to Environmental Operations.

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Talent show part of Lake Hiawatha festival Wednesday

By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes

August 05, 2013

See the talents of your neighbors during the Wednesday, Aug. 7 talent show at Lake Hiawatha Park.
The talent show will be held during the Lake Hiawatha Festival that runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the park. The talent show will begin at 6:15 p.m.
There are cash prizes: 1st place $50, 2nd $30 and 3rd $20. Preregistration required. Email lhfest@yahoo.com and include your talent.

ACTIVITIES
• Minnesota Lynx - The Minnesota Lynx WNBA team will have a booth at the festival. They will be bringing their inflatable basketball pop-a-shot, have giveaways for kids, and entries to win free tickets, and other fun prizes.  
• Water Feature  — The wading pool will be open during the festival. There will be an inflatable water slide.
• Canoe Rides – enjoy a canoe ride on Lake Hiawatha from 5:00-8:00 p.m. FREE
• Miniature Golf – enjoy 9 holes of mini golf provided by Party Putt LLC from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
• Caricaturist - Get a humerous drawing of yourself from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Family Fitness Challenge - compete with other families. If you want to participate in the family fitness challenge, please preregister. Email  lhfest@yahoo.com and in the body of the email list what fitness challenge your family will be participating in. Trophies will be awarded to the top three winners in the challenge.
  
• Pony Rides - for children 10 years old and younger. The location of the pony rides will be in the playing area near 28th Avenue.
• Other fun includes kids games, face painting, hair painting, fitness expo and the sports 5-in-1 moonwalk. Tickets cost 25¢ each.
•  For every $5 of tickets purchased receive one entry into the raffle. Raffle drawing at 7 p.m.
This event is sponsored and supported by the Lake Hiawatha Recreation Council, Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The festival first started in August 1996.
DETOUR
28th Avenue is currently undergoing construction starting at 40th St. Due to the construction do not use 28th Ave. to get to the festival. Instead, take Nokomis Ave. south to 44nd St. Turn west and follow 44th St. to the park.
More at http://www.lhrc.freeservers.com/festival.htm

SEE ORIGINAL POST @
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2013/08/05/talent-show-part-festival-wednesday