Skateboarders looking forward to better and more skate parks

Nokomis in mix for 20-year Skate Park Activity Plan; MPRB will take public comments during hearing on Nov. 29

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Ask a Minneapolis skater what he or she thinks of the city’s skate parks, and you’ll likely get a list of problems.
The six existing parks were built 15 years ago with modular obstacles and features that were designed by playground manufactures versus skateboard professionals. The park at Morris has a soft, asphalt surface and the ramps and features have sunk into it. All the existing skate parks are small and undersized. The elements are short, and not exciting to use. And they’re all falling apart.
These issues and more are outlined in the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation’s new Skate Park Activity Plan, which was initiated in 2012.
“Minneapolis skateboarders have been asking for quality skateboard parks for years. It has been a long five years in the making, but I am looking forward to the Minneapolis skateboard community finally getting the world-class skate parks they deserve,” stated City of Skate President Paul Forsline, who served on the MPRB’s steering committee for the new skate park plan.
Public comment on the plan was accepted online until Nov. 5, and will be taken in person during a public hearing on Wed., Nov. 29, 6pm, at the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation (MPRB) Headquarters, 2117 W. River Rd.
20-year roadmap
The 66-page Skate Park Activity Plan is a 20-year roadmap for providing quality support to the local skate park community and encouraging skating among new generations of park users.
The draft Minneapolis Skate Park Activity Plan has three goals:
1) Increase the number, variety, and distribution of skate parks in Minneapolis;
2) Address policy barriers to high-quality skate park experiences; and
3) Improve the overall skate park experience through design, operations, partnerships and safety measures.
It also provides context and analysis to help inform future decision-making regarding skate park opportunities within Minneapolis and the Minneapolis park system.
Photo right: In this design conception, a skate park is shown at Nokomis as part of the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park Master Plan. But, it is currently unfunded. It would be located west of the recreation center, and the initial design integrates natural elements. Skate bowls flow within the landscape. The skate plaza replicates nature with granite, bark textures, and shade trees. Plus, there’s a high priority on integrating water management features. (Image provided)
The plan recommends having one regional skate park, ten neighborhood skate parks (including expansion of the existing six), and six skate spots for a total of 17 public skate parks.
“If the skate park plan is funded moving forward, it will give our award-winning Minneapolis Park system a skate park infrastructure second to none,” observed Forsline.
He pointed out that Minneapolis has developed some of the best skateboarders in the world, despite little public support. “We saw Alec Majerus take silver in July at the 2017 X Games at US Bank Stadium. Minneapolis skateboarding is known and respected worldwide,” said Forsline. “It is time for our own public entities to recognize this and support our local skate scene.”
What the parks could be
Currently, 5,000-square-foot skate parks exist at Morris, Armatage, Brackett, Elliot, Bottineau and Creekview parks.
“These six parks never inspired skateboards, yet some of the skate parks are the busiest features in their respective parks,” remarked Forsline.
Photo left: The skate park at Morris Park. “Morris has limited space, so it would be important to prioritize a skate park for beginner and younger skaters, but have some creative and unusual features to still challenge more advanced skates,” remarked Paul Forsline of City of Skate. (Photo provided)
In the plan, these parks would be updated and expanded, when possible.
“Morris has limited space, so it would be important to prioritize a skate park for beginner and younger skaters, but have some creative and unusual features to still challenge more advanced skaters,” said Forsline. “A community stage would be a nice multi-use feature to include in this skate park space.”
“The skate park in Morris is in poor shape,” observed Longfellow resident Bill Welk. “I have not been there for several years due to the condition of the skate park and overall poor layout. The skate park features pre-fabricated concrete obstacles sat on an asphalt surface. Over time the heavy concrete obstacles have sunk into the asphalt and created gaps between the ramps and the asphalt. Not to mention that the rough asphalt eats up speed as a skateboarder pushes across; however, the aged asphalt is wonderful at removing layers of epidermis should a trick not go according to plan.”
Brackett’s existing skate park has always been a well-used skate park, despite having a rough asphalt surface. “With more space allocated here, having both street and transition skateboard features would be important,” said Forsline. “We have to keep the existing old playground rocket feature as a landmark. Maybe build the skate park around the rocket? A NASA and/or space themed skate park would be cool. A glowing skateable moonscape would be awesome.”
To accommodate the number of skaters in the city, the plan calls for adding skate parks at Nokomis, Northeast Athletic Field Park, Central Gym Park, and Cedar Field Park, and the potential Underpass Park and Skyway Commons Pocket Park.
A skate park at Nokomis is a part of the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park Master Plan, but it is currently underfunded. It would be located to the west of the recreation center, and the initial design integrates natural elements. Skate bowls flow within the landscape. A skate plaza replicates nature with granite, bark textures, and shade trees. Plus there’s a high priority on integrating water management features.
Photo right: “The Nokomis Park is in a great location. It is set to be built in an area between the two lakes,” pointed out Longfellow resident Bill Welk of City of Skate. (Illustration courtesy of City of Skate)
“The Nokomis Park is in a great location. It is set to be built in an area between the two lakes,” pointed out Welk.
In addition to creating spaces for skateboarders, planners recognize that inline skaters and BMX riders will use these parks.
“The skateboarding community in Minneapolis is pretty tight-knit,” observed Welk. “I like that skateboarding is always there for me when I want it. I can go skate by myself or with a group of people. There isn’t a set time, a season, or reliance on another people to skateboard.”
The challenges the community faces include a lack of public parks and long winters, according to Welk, who was part of the steering committee meeting on the Skate Park Activity Plan.
Quality skate parks: a great asset
“Skateboarding is only going to grow in popularity, and a city with a skateboarding plan is going to benefit,” pointed out Forsline, whose children skateboard. “Quality built skate parks by our park system will be the most heavily used features in our park system, and will, therefore, be a great value for our tax dollars. Well-designed skate parks should be inspired spaces that the community and skaters are both proud of.
“I hope every Minneapolis child has the opportunity to discover the challenge and creativity of skateboarding at their local public park and throughout our city.”

Article appeared in the December 2017 Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Minneapolis Park Board delays closing Hiawatha Golf Course

Golf supporters have held rallies and other events to fight for the continuation of an 18-hole course at Hiawatha. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Next step is to form a community advisory committee to fashion a more sustainable water management plan\

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Golfers, the 18-holes at Hiawatha won’t be closing as early as thought.
While the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) decided in August to reduce pumping and effectively close the course by allowing it to flood at the end of the 2019 season, the commissioners agreed on Oct. 4 to keep the course open until a new master plan for the property is adopted, and implementation begins.
To facilitate that, the park board directed staff to obtain approval from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to allow groundwater pumping at the current volume of 242 million gallons a year. The existing permit is for 36.5 million gallons a year.
Approximately 17 percent of the water being pumped is stormwater runoff, 33 percent is seepage directly from Lake Hiawatha, and 50 percent is shallow groundwater.
The DNR has indicated it will support pumping at the current volume of groundwater as long as the permit application includes: a safety operations plan for the property; a plan for a community engagement process to evaluate alternatives for the property that addresses excessive pumping issues identified by the DNR; and annual updates to the DNR on the community engagement process to evaluate alternatives that address the excessive groundwater pumping.
While that’s good news for golfers for the next few years, it is still expected that the Hiawatha Golf Course will eventually cease to operate as an 18-hole golf course due to excessive groundwater pumping.
That said, the current board of commissioners has requested that MPRB staff strongly consider that some form of traditional golf remains on the Hiawatha Golf Course property.
MPRB has been working to address the recreational impacts and environmental concerns related to the volume of groundwater being pumped at the Hiawatha Golf Course since it was discovered following the June 2014 flooding. MPRB held nine public meetings between January 2015 and July 2017.
Community committee will make recommendations
The park board has not set a definitive date for when changes to the Hiawatha Golf Course property will commence. Instead, board members directed staff to begin a planning process for incorporating a more sustainable water management plan into the landscape, according to District 3 Commissioner Steffanie Musich.
“I am confident that the public planning process utilized by the MPRB will respect the past while considering the future of this parkland, the need to design a landscape that reduces pumping while protecting nearby homes, and is resilient to the impacts of climate change,” she said.
As is typical for MPRB projects, a community engagement process will be used to gather input and inform decisions about the future of the golf course property. A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will be formed to recommend an amendment to the Nokomis-Hiawatha Master Plan that will lay out the plan for the Hiawatha Golf Course property.
The first step in creating a CAC is for staff to present the CAC’s “charge and composition” to the board of commissioners for approval. Once that is done, MPRB staff will begin taking applications for community members interested in serving on the CAC. Once the process opens, the information for submitting applications will be shared with the public through the Gov Delivery email subscription service, posted on the MPRB website, and shared through local media outlets.
The park board is expected to discuss a more refined version of the process and structure at one of its November meetings.
Stay involved and vote, urge golf course supporters
Supporters of keeping the Hiawatha 18-hole course are urging people to stay involved and do the same things they’ve been doing for months. Craig Nicols is glad that the park board listened to residents and considered the larger issue of water in the area.
“We very much encourage residents to gain as much knowledge as possible when making their park board choices on Election Day, because everyone uses parks,” said Nicols.
State legislators get involved
On Oct. 6, elected officials from the area representing Lake Hiawatha and the golf course held a hearing at the State Capitol about water issues and plans to change the recreational opportunities that would be available.
Testimony was provided by the Park Board, the city of Minneapolis, the DNR, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, and others.
“Some of the citizen testifiers brought a different perspective,” remarked Rep. Jean Wagenius (63B), who pointed out that they talked about the high water levels at Lake Nokomis and constraints on the ability to release water from the lake. They mentioned high groundwater levels and wet basements in an area south of Lake Hiawatha. Citizen reports about water percolating up from basement floors were new; it had not happened before. And they are increasing.
“While much focus has been on Lake Hiawatha and the golf course, it became clear at the hearing that the issues there are symptoms of a larger problem,” remarked Wagenius. “This area of south Minneapolis is receiving more water than can be managed. All of us need to understand the larger problem before we can design solutions.”
Wagenius asked the DNR for a briefing on the impact of the surface land use on the deep aquifer below the Minnehaha Creek watershed area that is used for drinking water, and Senator Torres Ray plans to arrange additional hearings at the Capitol.
Concerns about trash, phosphorus remain
Local resident Sean Connaughty is deeply concerned about how this change will delay a solution to reduce phosphorus and trash from entering Lake Hiawatha from the storm sewer pipe on the north side. The pipe that was installed in the 1930s currently drains 1,195 acres of South Minneapolis directly into Lake Hiawatha without any mitigation or clean-up.
Connaughty has personally removed 4,000 pounds of trash from Lake Hiawatha since 2015, and other volunteers have removed several thousand more pounds. Additionally, he pointed out, “Water quality measurements at Lake Hiawatha recorded the highest phosphorous measurements in the entire Minnehaha Creek Watershed.”
The “open channel” option laid out in the MPRB’s proposals earlier this year would provide a system of filtering out the trash and pollutants, and is one he supports.
“I hope that all sides of the issue can come together and find an equitable solution that meets the ecological and water quality needs of the lake, surrounding parkland and watershed while addressing the historical significance and important equity issues it represents,” said Connaughty. “I think that comprehensively mitigating the north pipe could be the issue that all folks can agree upon. The pollution of the water via this storm sewer system is avoidable and letting it continue is negligence.”

This article appeared in the November 2017 edition of the Longfellow-Nokomis Messenger. 

Park Board ready to update Longfellow playground

Commissioner encourages residents to visit other parks and ‘shop’ around for what they want at Longfellow

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Retiring Park Commissioner Scott Vreeland is looking forward to what Longfellow Park will look like next year after the playground is redone.
Planning for the playground began this year and construction will take place in 2018.
“I’m hoping to have my nine grandkids on it next summer,” said Vreeland, whose term is up this year.
Photo right: The first official open house for the Longfellow playground project was held on Oct. 14. The next ones are slated for Nov. 8 and Dec. 6. Kids are encouraged to give their input on the playground design along with their grown-ups. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Vreeland is not the only one thrilled to see the aging equipment replaced.
“The neighborhood is very excited to start the process of discussing what the new playground could be,” pointed out playground designer Chris DesRoches. “We are still in the early stages of the community engagement process. But, through events at National Night Out and the Longfellow Corn Roast, neighbors have shown interest in increasing the accessibility of the playground equipment, providing opportunities for all age children, and connecting the design of the equipment to the unique features of the Longfellow neighborhood.”
The first official open house for the project was held Oct. 14. The next ones are slated for Nov. 8 and Dec. 6. Subscribe to the project email list via the project webpage to get announcements for community meetings and to stay informed about the project.
Grown-ups and kids are encouraged to attend the open houses and share their thoughts on what they like.
Shop for stuff from other parks
Improvements have been made to several nearby parks in the past few years, including Minnehaha, Lake Nokomis, Triangle Park, Powderhorn, and Matthews.
There are lots of choices for playground equipment these days. “I hope folks do some shopping for stuff they like,” Vreeland stated.
Those who like the old wooden park structures may want to check out what was installed on the west side of Powderhorn. The new equipment is built of locust wood that is good for 50 years. “It has got a nice feel to it,” observed Vreeland.
“There are many cool things with adult and kid stuff that work together,” added Vreeland, including toddler swings attached to an adult swing. Other cities have been installing equipment that enables adults to exercise while watching their children at play.
Plus, Minneapolis has begun experimenting with nature play areas and hybrids that allow kids to play differently and work together.
“Each park has its own kind of character,” stated Vreeland. “It’ll be interesting to see how that influences the design.”
Photo left: The first official open house for the Longfellow playground project was held on Oct. 14. The next ones are slated for Nov. 8 and Dec. 6. Kids are encouraged to give their input on the playground design along with their grown-ups. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Playground dates to 1980s
The current playground equipment at Longfellow Park was installed in the last 1980s and has reached the end of its lifespan, according to park board staff. The components and wood structure are significantly worn and beginning to fail due to age. Some items have been removed over the past few years as they were broken or had safety issues. Because of the age, the parts could not be replaced.
Additionally, the equipment is also out of compliance with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ASTM guidelines.
“I really tried to get this done sooner, but it didn’t happen,” remarked Vreeland. “I’m happy it is finally happening.”

This article appeared in the November 2017 edition of the Longfellow-Nokomis Messenger.

Nokomis playground re-opens

Officials and community members including Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Commissioner Steffanie Musich and Nokomis East Neighborhood Association Board President Mike Ferrin, officially cut the ribbon to open the updated Nokomis Community Center playground on Friday, July 28, 2017. The $300,000 cost of the improvements came from 2015 CIP net debt bonds.  Work started in May, and included “logs” for balancing on and “wood” stepping stones made from recycled plastic materials, “tree” poles for climbing, and raised hills. There’s a “birds nest” to play in on one of the three-to-four-foot high raised hills, and a taller structure on another. There will be one tall slide and two smaller ones, a climber, diggers, swings and Willow Thicket. Planners tied the existing disconnected play structures into a single playground through the use of a long concrete border (that doubles as a balance beam for children) and a single container filled with an ADA-compliant surface. Bollards around the playground area had yet to be placed as of the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The project has experienced some delays due to weather.

Avery Asante, 5, of Bloomington tries out the new swing after hopping from log to log in another section of the playground. “We love it,” said his father, Andrew Asante. “It’s nice to go to different parks.” To get a feel for how residents used the old equipment, playground designer Chris Desroches observed it in person and then factored in resident comments before fashioning the new design. Comments were solicited last year three open houses and the Monarch Festival.

“The park board has made significant investments in our neighborhood, and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Nokomis East Neighborhood Association Board President Mike Ferrin, referring to the new playground at Nokomis Community Center and the updates at Bossen field.

Four-year-old Faye Saybolt goes down the big slide at the Nokomis Community Center playground, a feature that residents recall having been there in the past and asked for again, according to project manager Beth Pfeifer. “It’s amazing,” said Faye’s mother, Jennifer Saybolt, who lives near the lake.

Max Kyle, age 3.5, of Ericsson, climbs on the raised hills that play off the nature area nearby but don’t replicate it. Kyle attends the preschool program at the Nokomis Community Center and will be seeing a lot of this playground, according to his father, Collin Lyle. “It’s nice that they updated it,” said Lyle. A surprise for the kids includes the old dolphin with teeth and a bowler hat buried in the sand so that children can dig it up. Planners think this lends towards the desire by community residents to keep pieces that inspire creativity.

When it was possible, old pieces such as the pull-up bars and metal arch were re-used. They will also be repainted to match the new items at the playground. The Willow Thicket that has been at the Rose Garden temporarily has found a permanent home at the Nokomis playground. 

Parks Commissioner Steffanie Musich is most excited by the natural play area to the south of the new playground equipment. It is the first like it in Minneapolis and will provide an example of how to do this elsewhere. “So many kids in an urban environment don’t have the opportunity to get comfortable with nature in a tactile way.” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Photos by Tesha M. Christensen

Appeared in the September 2017 Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger

Time for Commissioners to decide what happens at Golf Course

Meanwhile, golfers ramp up efforts to save course and continue to question why Minnehaha Creek can’t be dredged

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
As the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) of Commissioners begin discussing the future of Hiawatha Golf Course, golfers are ramping up their efforts to save the course.
Local resident Craig Nichols, who lived near Hiawatha Golf Course for the past 10 years, started an online petition and is running a Facebook group called “Save Hiawatha Golf.” He presented a petition with over 1,200 signatures to the board during a July 19 public hearing.
“Hiawatha golf course has been a friendly and affordable home to golfers of the Twin Cities since 1934,” explained Nichols on the www.change.org petition page. “Through good times and bad, our families have been able to ‘escape’ to Hiawatha for a quick round and chat with friends.
Photo right: Craig Nichols practices putting at Hiawatha Golf Course. He recently started the Facebook Page, “Save Hiawatha Golf.” “I did this because I wanted the youth of Minneapolis to be able to have the opportunity to learn a game they can play their whole lives and with that learn to be part of a community,” he explained. “I felt the park board was leaving golfers out of the conversation, and seemed to not want people to know what was happening. Did you know the golf course isn’t allowed to post anything about its own future at the course? Even so much as a notice that there will be a meeting? Makes a person wonder about their transparency a little doesn’t it?” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Hiawatha has a vibrant community of golfers from ages five to 85 that will have to find somewhere else to golf. Some of the younger and older golfers will have a difficult time getting to one of the suburban courses.
“Please convince the Minneapolis Park Board, the Minnesota DNR, and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to do their jobs and come up with intelligent solutions to solve the problems Hiawatha faces rather than just shut generations of golfers out.”
Some have commented that if the course was rearranged and used a modern design, less would be located in the lower elevations.
Golfers are also pushing the park board to hold off making a decision until after new park board members are installed in 2018.
“We’d like to see the vote on the course put off until the next board is in,” wrote Nichols on the Save Hiawatha Golf Facebook page. “We feel they are rushing this through since most aren’t running again.”
As of press time, the full Board of Commissioners planned to consider the water management recommendation at its Wed., Aug. 9 meeting.
Local commissioner Steffanie Musich has stated that she is refraining from making a final decision about pumping until the board has been provided with the final staff report and the public hearing has been held. She is one of the few board members who is planning to run for re-election.
Two options
MPRB staff, with the assistance of local firm Barr Engineering, have narrowed the options for Hiawatha Golf Course to two.
Option A would reduce the pumping there to 308 million gallons of groundwater, which keeps the course open.
Option B drops the pumping to 94 million gallons of groundwater, which would effectively flood much of the property and close the course while keeping neighboring basements dry.
Photo left: For the past 10 years, Craig Nichols has lived within a few blocks of Hiawatha Golf Course. He values the course because it offers what others don’t by being the only course in Minneapolis fully within city limits. “Do people expect that kids from south Minneapolis will be able to get to Wirth or Gross, or Meadowbrook easily on their own?” he questioned. “It also has one of the most extensive practice area of any course in the metro, let alone the inner city,” Nichols added. Five high schools practice at Hiawatha, and other children participate in the First Tee program. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Without any pumping, the groundwater elevation underneath the golf course would rise by 4 feet and flood most of the course. MPRB has been pumping stormwater and groundwater off the course into Lake Hiawatha since the 1960s. The property was originally a wetland, called Rice Lake before it was dredged and the fill used to create a golf course, which is currently sinking.
Options A and B were presented to the public following a series of meetings regarding the issues at the course. During the April and May meetings, staff solicited opinions from the public about what they’d want on the land instead of a golf course, and suggestions were varied.
On June 21, staff announced that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which must approve the level of pumping at the property, favors Option B because it reduces pumping by 70% and is considered more sustainable and less costly in the long run.
However, the DNR will not make an official statement and decision about the project until the MPRB submits an appropriations permit application, and so some residents question whether the DNR is actually in favor of closing the course.
Would dredging solve the problem?
Other residents are pushing for MPRB to lower the level of the lake and dredge it and the creek to maintain the golf course.
Engineers have repeatedly said that dredging the lake would make it deeper but not lower the level of the lake, so it will not reduce pumping.
To lower the lake level, the outlet of the lake would need to be lowered. This could be accomplished by modifying an existing weir at 28th St. and another weir at Hiawatha Ave. It may also be necessary to dredge the creek between the two weirs. Lowering the lake would also result in lower water elevations in the creek downstream of the lake, and would affect how much flood storage is available both around Lake Hiawatha and farther downstream. Plus the project would require permits from several agencies.
Minnehaha Creek could be dredged, but not by more than one foot because of several utility crossings, including a Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) 11-foot diameter gravity sanitary sewer pipe. One foot deeper would not help the situation at Hiawatha, according to a MPRB face sheet available online.
However, if existing sanitary sewer pipes were protected in some way, MPRB could consider lowering 2,000 feet of channel to an elevation of 809, which would result in a slight reduction in the flooding at the Bloomington Pond Area/Sibley Pond and no impact in flooding at the Hiawatha west watershed.
There are three bridges/crossing downstream of Lake Hiawatha that would need to be modified or reconstructed to achieve the lower channel elevation, and the city water main upstream of 28th would need to be lowered. An abandoned CenterPoint gas main downstream of 28th would need to be removed. Additionally, the creek channel would need to be redesigned and restored to achieve a stable channel and banks, and it would take some time to re-establishing the existing biological communities.
If the pumping changes
If the pumping at the course changes, a master planning process will begin that will take 9-12 months and include input from a Community Advisory Committee. The course would continue to stay open, likely through the 2019 season.

The Hiawatha Golf Course in numbers

• The highest number of rounds was 55,000 in 2001.
• The lowest number of rounds was 14,000 in 2014 when the course was flooded.
• The annual average rounds per year is 40,800.
• However, in the last six years impacted by flooding, wet conditions, and market changes, the average was 23,800.
• For the period before the wet years, the average annual revenue was $250,000.
• For the six years impacted by flooding, the average annual revenue was a loss of $180,000.

This article appeared in the August 2017 Longfellow-Nokomis Messenger.

Minnesota DNR supports closing Hiawatha Golf Course

DNR favors reducing pumping at the golf course. Residents are split: peace and quiet vs. maximum usage of space.

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Of the two directions for the Hiawatha Golf Course that were presented to the public on May 18, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) favors the one that reduces the amount of pumping there by 70%.
“The DNR would prefer alternative B,” stated MPRB Assistant Superintendent of Planning Michael Schroeder. “It has multiple benefits while we’re reducing the pumping.” He added, “The 70% reduction is considered more sustainable.”
The Department of Natural Resources needs to sign off on the pumping at the golf course property. Currently, MPRB has a permit to pump 36.5 million gallons a year, far less than the 308 million gallons it is actually pumping.
“We’re really focused on reducing the pumping while still protecting adjacent homes,” remarked Minneapolis Director of Surface Water and Sewers Katrina Kessler.
Options either 18-hole golf course or something else
MPRB has decided against putting a 9-hole golf course at the site, despite a desire by April public meeting attendees to try to keep some kind of golf there even if the 18-hole course is shut down. There is only one 9-hole golf course in the state that is profitable, pointed out Schroeder, and it is located in Pierz, Minn. “Revenue for golf courses is generated by players who desire 18 holes,” he said. “In the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation system parameters, a 9-hole golf course simply doesn’t work.”
If golf is taken out of the equation, many other uses can be applied.
MPRB asked attendees to comment on two alternatives (photo at the top of page).
Photo right: After discussing two scenarios for the Hiawatha Golf Course, two people from each table shared comments with the entire group gathered at Nokomis Recreation Center on May 18. Meeting attendees were split on keeping golf versus discontinuing the pumping and letting the area flood. There were two competing interests: continuing the peace and quiet of the area versus maximum usage of the space. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
To keep the 18-hole golf course, MPRB would have to continue pumping 308 million gallons a year, while alternative B would require pumping 94 million gallons of groundwater, allowing the lower areas of the property to be covered with water. With Alternative A, there are 9 acres of open water; with Alternative B, there are 41 acres.
To keep the 18-hole golf course, MPRB would have to continue pumping 308 million gallons a year, while alternative B would require pumping 94 million gallons of groundwater, allowing the lower areas of the property to be covered with water. With Alternative A, there is 9 acres of open water; with Alternative B, there is 41 acres.
“Mother nature never intended it to be a golf course,” remarked Joseph Jones. He observed that in the 17 years he’s lived nearby, the area has flooded three times.
Some people at the meeting pointed to a generational and financial gap between the golfers and the other residents, while others countered that they didn’t see a generation gap and regularly golf with their children and parents at the course for $12.
“I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach that Hiawatha Golf Course is gone,” said one attendee during the feedback section of the May meeting. “It has some serious water issues. It wants to be a lake.”
Another person commented that the loss of the golf course seemed “inevitable,” while others stressed that the golf course has been profitable the past three years and should continue its operation.
“This project is really divisive, pitting neighbor against neighbor,” stated one man who supports retaining the golf course. “It’s really unfortunate that we are being pulled apart by this issue.”
Phosphorus load could drop 191 pounds per year
There would be no change to the phosphorus load at the property if the 18-hole golf course remained, but a whopping 191 pound a year reduction under Alternative B. Park Commissioner Steffanie Musich pointed out that she has never seen that amount of a reduction on a report before. “It’s a really big deal,” said Musich. Most mitigation efforts drop phosphorus by about 7 pounds a year.
Trash mitigation is included in both options. An open water channel would provide a place for trash to be collected and pollutants filtered out before entering Lake Hiawatha. Alternative B adds more land use changes, including remeandering Minnehaha Creek.
Local resident Sean Connaughty questioned whether changing the outlet of the creek from the south side of the lake to the west side was a good idea because of how it would affect the existing habitat and wildlife there. He didn’t support the suggestion to put a retreat center where the current outlet is now for the same reason.
“We want to see clean water and habitat protection,” said Connaughty.
Local resident Steve Burt was glad to hear about the reduction in trash planned for the lake. “It’s like a receptacle for trash that comes in from every part of the city,” he observed.
Some people expressed concerns about mosquitoes that might come with increasing wetland restoration.
Users estimated to jump if land is used for other things
Attendees also considered how many people currently use the property versus how many might if there were other amenities there. Currently, there are 10,500 golfers, and that number is estimated to rise to 146,000 if the event center is updated. However, if the range of uses at the site was diversified, that number is estimated to be 522,462.
For comparison purposes, Minnehaha Regional Park has 1,717,600 users each year, Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park 5,101,700 (the highest in the state) and TheodoreWirth Regional Park 570,200, according to a Met Council report.
“The neighborhood has been wanting to get access to his park for years,” observed Burt. He recalls the “fence wars” that have occurred as neighbors cut the golf course fence in order to walk around inside. He mentioned how nice Wood Lake Nature Center is, and supports something similar here. “I think that anything that opens people up to nature in the city is a good thing,” said Burt.
Willie Gregg is in favor of using the land for something other than a golf course. “It feels more open and inviting for a variety of users in a wider variety of ways,” he remarked.
Meeting attendees expressed concern about a possible increase in users and the additional traffic and parking issues that would bring. Some stressed that there should not be any additional paved parking lots, while others didn’t want to see street parking problems such as those near Minnehaha Park. Some residents didn’t feel that the infrastructure was in place to handle 500,000 users at Hiawatha.
Photo left: There is no easy way to summarize the kind of input provided at the April 20 meeting, remarked MPRB Assistant Superintendent of Planning Michael Schroeder. MPRB put the keywords into a word cloud engine and created this graphic to show which phrases were most popular. (Photo submitted)
There were two competing interests: continuing the peace and quiet of the area versus maximum usage of the space.
Others expressed support for the use of solar power and renewable energy at the site, the return of wild rice, the continuation of cross country skiing, an edible food forest, prairie restoration, and increased programming for kids. If the golf course is changed, some are concerned that the property will sit empty and look badly for years during the transition period.
“If we’re going to lose our golf course,” said one commenter, “let’s make it something special.”
Future meetings
A final meeting with the public was held June 21 when there was little public comment in comparison to the past two meetings that were primarily focused on soliciting stakeholder opinions.
Schroeder pointed out that any changes at the course wouldn’t happen this year, or likely even next. “When we get to the Park and Recreation Board, we still have years,” he said.
MPRB will discuss the issue at its July 12 board meeting and select a direction to pursue at its Aug. 9 meeting. Comments are being collected via an online survey available on the MPRB Hiawatha Golf Course project page.

Athletic fields designed near Nokomis, urban ag proposed near Hiawatha

Open house held as changes require modification of Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park by park board

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
With the focus of nearby Bossen Park on softball, some residents feel that leaves room for other sports such as Australian Football and soccer at Nokomis Park.
The current project at Bossen is placing four premier baseball/softball fields in a pinwheel formation looking out, with another two fields on the south side and two large open field areas on the north.
Photo left: Concept A is one of two concepts MPRB asked the public for input on. (Illustration provided)
When the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park master plan was approved in March 2015, it didn’t include a specific layout for the athletic fields, in part because planners knew that the Bossen Field project was about to get underway, pointed out MPRB Director of Strategic Planning Adam Arvidson.
When the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park master plan was approved in March 2015, it didn’t include a specific layout for the athletic fields, in part because planners knew that the Bossen Field project was about to get underway, pointed out MPRB Director of Strategic Planning Adam Arvidson.
However, the fields at Nokomis are currently in very poor condition, and MPRB held an open house on May 25 to ask for community input on the athletic fields as it prepares to fix them.
The two proposed plans for Nokomis aim to preserve large open spaces for a variety of sports, remarked Arvidson.
Concept A includes seven adult-size softball fields of which two are in the far south of the parcel, three high-school-sized soccer fields, and an Australian football field in the center.
Concept B configures the fields differently and has six softball fields, three soccer fields and an Australian football field in the center. Both include a 60-space parking area and trail cutting across the center of the area.
Citizens asked if there could be a storage shed for groups that play there, as well as a place for bathrooms and drinking fountains. Others asked for lighting on the fields. Additional input was taken through an online survey that was open through June 23.
Football players hope to use the fields more
Photo right: A group of Minnesota Freeze Australian Football, Gaelic football, and hurling players attended the open house on May 25 to learn about the two proposals. The men’s Minnesota Freeze teams currently hold its Wednesday night weekly practices and Saturday morning games at Lake Nokomis, and the women’s team would like to be there, as well. (Photo submitted by Minnesota Freeze)
“It would be great to have the men’s and women’s teams practice together,” noted Freeze Captain Andrew Werner, a Nokomis resident, but it is difficult to do now because of how the fields are arranged. “The sport is community-based,” he observed. “A lot of families come out and watch, too.” Plus, they’d like to see the club grow.
“It would be great to have the men’s and women’s teams practice together,” noted Freeze Captain Andrew Werner, a Nokomis resident, but it is difficult to do now because of how the fields are arranged. “The sport is community-based,” he observed. “A lot of families come out and watch, too.” Plus, they’d like to see the club grow.
The groups need fields that are larger than soccer fields, such as two soccer fields side-by-side, to play a game. The Gaelic team can’t use the fields as they are now due to the number of potholes, unlevel surfaces, and gopher holes.
Urban ag area at Hiawatha
Another change being considered to the master plan was driven by a community desire to be able to harvest fruit in the park, explained Arvidson.
The current plan calls for naturalizing the landscape along the east side of Lake Hiawatha and eliminating much of the grassy lawn. The proposed change would replace the naturalized landscape with an urban agriculture area that would include foraging in a woodland environment.
If this is approved, citizens would still be prohibited from harvesting at the site until the park board changes its anti-foraging ordinance, which was recommended in the Urban Agriculture Plan approved in 2014. The park board is currently working on modifying the Vegetation Molestation Ordinance to allow for harvesting within designated areas, according to Arvidson.
Photo right: Minnesota Freeze men’s team captain Andrew Werner discusses athletic field configurations with fellow football and hurling players during an open house on Thursday, May 25, 2017. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
In the future, the MPRB intends to include a list online with an interactive map showing people where they can harvest food.
Some residents are also pushing MPRB to create a food forest at the Hiawatha Golf Course site, which would not be mutually exclusive from an urban agricultural area on the east side of Lake Hiawatha, said Arvidson. The golf course property is not included within the Nokomis-Hiawatha Master Plan.
Funding tricky
The financing of the fields will be tricky, as regional park dollars can’t be spent on athletic fields, which are considered as neighborhood park amenities, explained Arvidson. Regional park systems tend to be nature-based recreational systems. Neighborhood parks, in contrast, can’t get state or regional funding or access Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment funds.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis seeks to avoid using neighborhood tax dollars for capital improvements in the 19 regional park facilities within the city.
Photo left: Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board employee Siciid Ali (left) discusses possible changes to the Nokomis-Hiawatha Master Plan with Nokomis resident Alan Schneider, who has helped with the Naturescape Gardens over the years. He is concerned that park staff is mowing too much of the natural gardens near the trails. He also hopes that planners continue to leave space for pick-up soccer games in the park. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Arvidson observed that 47 million people a year use the metro-area regional parks, while 10 million visit state parks. The second most popular regional park in Minnesota is the Chain of Lakes Park in Minneapolis with 5.5 million visitors each year.
“Four of the top five most visited parks in the regional park system are in Minneapolis,” said Arvidson. He’s frustrated that the state legislature has excluded these popular areas from bonding bills.
MPRB will likely consider the changes to the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park plan and public comments at its July 19 meeting, which will begin at 5pm at 2117 W. River Rd. N.

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).

MPRB presents five scenarios for Hiawatha Golf Course

Five scenarios being studied for Hiawatha Golf Course:
• Alternative 1 – Existing Conditions: 18 hole golf course, current pumping; affects one house
• Alternative 2 – No groundwater pumping, berm in-place; other park use, pumping to manage stormwater only; affects 9-14 houses
• Alternative 3 – Reduced pumping, berm in-place; other park use, reduced pumping to protect basements and manage stormwater; affects 0-4 houses
• Alternative 4 – Reduced pumping, gravity-connection; other park use, reduced pumping to protect basements, gravity connection to Lake Hiawatha (no stormwater pumping required); affects 0-4 houses
• Alternative 5 – Reduced pumping, gravity-connection, open channel and creek realignment; other park use, reduced pumping to protect basements, gravity connection to Lake Hiawatha (no stormwater pumping required), development of the open channel and realignment of Minnehaha Creek; affects 0-4 houses

Only one of five would keep 18-hole golf course while rest are a mix of pumping and park-use options

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Of the five scenarios being evaluated for the Hiawatha Golf Course, only one would leave the golf course open. The other four would reduce the amount of pumping or not pump water off the land at all, and the site would be set aside for other park uses.
Currently, the golf course is open because 308 million gallons of water are being pumped into the lake and then seeped back onto the course in a repeating pattern.
No pumping would not only close the golf course but also potentially flood the basements of between 9-14 nearby homes. Reduced pumping options would affect up to 4 homes. (See at top of page for detailed information on scenarios.)
The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) intends to select a preferred scenario to pursue by July.
At an Apr. 20 community meeting, residents viewed diagrams which illustrated the spaces created by the varying levels of groundwater pumping, and how these layouts may affect certain uses within the park in the future. The majority of this meeting focused on developing ideas for potential uses within the park. (Check the June Messenger for an article on the April meeting, which just missed our publication deadline.)
Photo left: At a Mar. 20 community meeting, attendees were asked to share their opinion on how the golf course land should be used moving forward by placing stickers on a diamond configuration. The graphic measures how many people support active versus passive use at the golf course property and nature-inspired design versus natural systems. (Photo submitted by MPRB)
\One scenario stops trash from ‘choking lake’
Only one of the proposed scenarios would effectively stop trash from “choking the lake,” according to Standish-Ericsson resident Sean Connaughty, who has removed 3,400 pounds of trash from Lake Hiawatha in the last year.
He pointed out that despite his efforts and those of other volunteers, trash remains in the lake and on its shores. “It comes from our streets,” he said.
While 90 participants have adopted 170 drains in the Lake Hiawatha watershed, Connaughty is pushing the city and MPRB to change how the storm sewer drains discharge directly into Lake Hiawatha.
“The most effective way to stop the trash and pollutants from reaching the lake is to create a catchment pond or ‘open channel’ in the line of the big north storm sewer pipe,” Connaughty said.
The big north pipe that currently runs into the lake would be diverted into an open water area outside the lake where trash and pollutants could be isolated and removed before they reach the lake. “I imagine the catchment pond or open channel would be surrounded by wetland that could help absorb and consume other pollutants before they reach the lake,” explained Connaughty.
MPRB is also considering a ‘gravity connection,’ so rather than pumping stormwater it would be allowed to flow naturally with gravity to the lake through wetlands.
“In this time of disappearing protections for our waters, something great could happen right here that would mean dramatic improvement for water quality and habitat preservation. But they (Parks) need to know this is what we want,” Connaughty said.
Moving forward
As the MPRB moves forward, it will factor in social, environmental and economic considerations to chart the future course of the site. Staff is working to identify ecological impacts, recreational impacts, economic impacts, and transportation/traffic impacts, as well as environmental regulations. Plus a review of cultural resources is being completed.
Next, Use Envision™ will be used to generate a sustainability score rating for each alternative considering, e.g., energy consumed and carbon dioxide produced, impacts on community health, and well-being
AutoCASE will help quantify costs and benefits of areas such as water quality, flood risks, recreational value, healthy and safety, and air quality.
As pumping alternatives are evaluated, the impacts to water quality and opportunities to reduce trash in stormwater are also being considered.
Resident opinions
Residents have a variety of opinions on the golf course property, and some wrote their thoughts down for the Park Board following the Mar. 20 community meeting.
One commenter pointed out that there are plenty of passive use and natural areas in South Minneapolis for residents to enjoy, including the Minnehaha Falls area. “Hiawatha Golf Course is the only one set in the heart of the city, and it is a gem,” the commenter wrote, adding that “golf is communing with nature while being a fun activity.”
Some residents continue to push for pesticide and chemical testing at the course arguing that the samples taken once in January of 2016 could not provide a full picture of what’s happening there.
Roxanne Stuhr of Friends of Lake Hiawatha asked that multiple sites be tested at multiple times of the year, not just when the ground is frozen.
“Identifying the chemicals and sharing them publicly will help to determine future uses,” Stuhr said.
Another commenter asked that alternatives to chemical herbicides and pesticides be used at the site, and that buffer zones be created for the bodies of water there. “Please create an effective mitigation system to capture and divert trash and pollutants to keep them out of the lake,” wrote the resident, who also pushed for a land use that would limit foot traffic and protect habitat and ecosystems.
“As a Minneapolis residents, I am interested in seeing progressive alternatives to maintaining park lands,” said Anna Seewald. “If supporting a golf course is unsustainable in light of the current environmental conditions then I feel that it’s time to move away from that and to use the land in a way that makes sense for the community while considering a sustainable way to maintain the land.”
Seewald supports the idea of a food forest and light recreation on the property. “However, I do not support the current amount of pumping to maintain the golf course.”
MPRB considers food forest
Earlier in March, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) sent out a press release stressing that Food Forest concept is a proposed idea from an organized group of residents, and is separate from the approved Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park Master Plan.
“Urban agriculture was not identified as a priority during the recently completed year-and-a-half master planning process for the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park, and the final, approved plan did not include any agricultural zones within the Hiawatha Park,” pointed out MPRB representatives. “The prevailing sentiment among the Community Advisory Committee and public commentary was that the park should have more naturalization and habitat for wildlife.
“Hiawatha Park could be a place for a planned orchard and urban agriculture zone, but it would be disrespectful to all the people who worked on the current master plan to move forward with an amendment without additional engagement. It would also be out of line with MPRB’s dedication to broad and meaningful community engagement.”
MPRB is currently considering two amendments to the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park Master Plan:
1) Consideration on of a recommended design concept for the Nokomis Athletic field
2) The inclusion of a designated urban agriculture area along the east side of Lake Hiawatha
These items will be discussed during an open house on Thur., May 25. See the MPRB project page for more details as they are available.

Article appeared in the April 2017 Longfellow Nokomis Messenger.

Simple and nature-based playground planned at Nokomis

Playground near community center will be redone next year and stand out as a unique park

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN

Neighborhood kids are excited by the plan to redo the playgrounds by the Nokomis Community Center next year.

The new design for the playground near the Nokomis Community Center features “logs” for balancing on and “wood” stepping stones made from recycled plastic materials, “tree” poles for climbing, and raised hills. There’s a “birds nest” to play in on one of the three-to-four-foot high raised hills, and a taller structure on another. There will be one tall slide and two smaller ones, a climber, diggers, swings and Willow Thicket. (Photo submitted)

They had the chance to check things out during an open house at the Nokomis Community Center on Tue., Nov. 15.
“It’s really cool,” said nine-year-old Emersen Russell after looking over display boards. Her friend, Annika Clift, agreed, pointing to an image of the multi-user swing. “We love those things!” she said.
Ava Beckett, age 10, is excited to see “those spinning things that I love.”
“Everything looks fun,” stated Gemma Cudd, age 10.
Adults gave the plan a thumbs up, as well.
“I think it looks nice,” remarked longtime resident Scott Beckett.

Playground designer Chris Desroches (left) explains the new pieces of equipment that will be installed at the Nokomis playground to Gemma Cudd, age 10, and Ava Beckett, age 10 during an open house. Beckett is excited to see “those spinning things that I love.” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

“It looks like they’re sticking to the spirit of the outdoors and nature,” observed 16-year neighborhood resident Mike Russell. “It looks very interactive.”
After seeing the parks in many other cities while traveling for work, Russell said he really appreciates what Minneapolis has. “The city and nature really blend like no other city,” Russell said. “We have access to a lot of things to do outdoors.”
Additional comments on the plan will be accepted until Dec. 2 either in person at the Nokomis Community Center or online at bit.ly/nokomisplayground.
It will go the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for approval on Jan. 4, 2017.
Simple and nature-based
The new design for ages 2-8 has a similar feel as the parks at Wabun and Levine Triangle, but it isn’t meant to be like any others in the city.
“One of the goals is to have each playground be slightly different,” explained project manager Beth Pfeifer. “We want people to have different experiences at different parks.”
To get a feel for how residents use the current equipment, playground designer Chris Desroches observed it in person and then factored in resident comments before fashioning the new design. Comments were solicited earlier this year at three open houses and the Monarch Festival.
“People liked what was existing there and the style of it,” recalled Desroches. They expressed a desire for a simple and nature-based playground.
“This will be a unique space,” said Desroches.
The new design features “logs” for balancing on and “wood” stepping stones made from recycled plastic materials, “tree” poles for climbing, and raised hills. There’s a “birds nest” to play in on one of the three-to-four-foot high raised hills, and a taller structure on another.
“What we wanted to do was play off the nature play area, but not replicate it,” explained Desroches.
The hills will be well-suited for younger kids, who won’t be hurt if they end up rolling down them.
Residents asked for a high slide, so there’s one in the plan, as well as two other smaller ones. They wanted lots of swings, so the plan includes a row of six with another two baby swings on the other side.
People with older and younger kids commented that it is hard to maintain good visibility of all their kids with the current set-up. In recognition of that, a hill will be graded and benches installed that allow parents to view the entire playground area at a time.
Planners intend to tie the existing disconnected play structures into a single playground through the use of a long concrete border (that will double as a balance beam for children) and a single container filled with an ADA-compliant surface. The green portions are a material similar to that at Wabun, and the rest will be a virgin hardwood material made specifically so that a wheelchair can be rolled across it. Plus, it last longer than regular mulch.
Metal equipment to be reused
Some of the existing equipment looks like it is solid and still in good shape, pointed out some residents. Park workers agreed. Two galvanized steel slides, a climber, the chin-up and turning bars, and the diggers will be reused.
Because safety standards are different today than they were 50 years ago, not everything can be reused in the same way. The dolphin with teeth and a bowler hat can’t be used as is, but designers have a plan for it. The dolphin will be buried in the sand so that children can dig it up. Planners think this lends towards the desire by community residents to keep pieces that inspire creativity.
The Willow Thicket that has been at the Rose Garden temporarily will find a permanent home at Nokomis.
It will be surrounded by round concrete billers — sort of like the ones in the front of Target stores, explained Desroches. The bollards can be used many different ways. Children will be able to climb on them. Plus, they allow parents to engage with each other in a way that neither benches nor picnic tables do while also keeping a good eye on their children because they can lean on them and move around as needed. Other bollards will be placed around the concrete border to break it up.
Nature pop-up becomes pilot project
As part of the project, the pop-up nature play area on the south side that was added last spring will be made more permanent.
A natural play area wasn’t included in the Nokomis master plan, but since it was so well-loved, planners didn’t want to remove it, according to Pfeifer.
Instead, the pop-up will become a pilot project.
They’ve asked the forestry department to hold onto specific shapes and pieces next spring that will become key anchors in the natural play area.
The area will be closed for a short time to regarded and place the new wood pieces.
Work likely to take six weeks
Residents commented that they wanted to have a playground to use during the summer, particularly for use by the Rec Plus program that begins when school releases. Planners also recognize that having it under construction during the Monarch Festival would be bad timing.
The current plan is to wait until fall 2017 to begin work, but if there’s an early spring, the project will be done then instead.
Once work begins, it will take about six weeks to complete, depending on the weather.
The large playground structure for ages 5-12 that was recently replaced will remain. However, the existing sand will be replaced with an ADA-compliant surface. The hope is to complete that work first so that this part of the playground will still be usable while the rest is fenced off.
The $300,000 cost of the work is part of the MRPB’s 2015 Capital Improvement Plan and is funded with net debt bonds.

Article appeared in the November 2016 Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Local residents push Minneapolis Parks to ban use of pesticides

Russ Henry, Sean Connaughty, Ryan Seibold among those who support an organic park system in Minneapolis

(Photo above) Standish-Ericsson residents Sean Connaughty speaks to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board on Mar. 16, in favor banning Roundup. He was one of 40 people who attended the meeting in support of organic gardening. “I will maintain vigilance on behalf of Lake Hiawatha and continue to work to get an effective mitigation system for our storm sewers to stop the incredible trash problem,” said Connaughty, “and will observe behaviors on the land that affect the water and wildlife. I am reaching out to the Governor to see if the lake can be helped in our states efforts to clean up our waters.” (Photo submitted)

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN

Local residents are pushing the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board to ban pesticide use on park land.

The group gained a small victory on Mar. 16 when the Park Board Operations Committee agreed to discontinue the use of herbicide treatments in neighborhood parks where glyphosate (or Roundup) is the active ingredient.

The full park board is expected to vote on the issue during their Apr. 6 regular board meeting.
Over 1,500 people have signed a petition calling for a pesticide ban, 800 plus via a Move-On online petition, and 700 in person at last year’s Monarch Festival.

More than 40 people attended the park board meeting in support of the ban, and 19 spoke for a transition to organic parks.

Park Board uses 150 chemicals
Leading the charge against pesticides is Longfellow resident and business owner Russ Henry.
 
Standish-Ericsson residents Sean Connaughty speaks to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board on Mar. 16, in favor banning Roundup. He was one of 40 people who attended the meeting in support of organic gardening. “I will maintain vigilance on behalf of Lake Hiawatha and continue to work to get an effective mitigation system for our storm sewers to stop the incredible trash problem,” said Connaughty, “and will observe behaviors on the land that affect the water and wildlife. I am reaching out to the Governor to see if the lake can be helped in our states efforts to clean up our waters.” (Photo submitted)

Henry owns a full-service organic gardening company named Giving Tree Gardens and is the chair of the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council.

“Longfellow and Nokomis neighborhoods are filled with parks where the Minneapolis Park Board currently allows and encourages pesticide use,” said Henry. “Folks are often surprised to learn that the Park Board is using Roundup and a list of more than 150 dangerous chemical herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.”

Henry is pushing for a complete pesticide ban and believes it would go a long way to improving water quality in Minneapolis parks.

“Invertebrates like bees and butterflies, amphibians, fish, and small mammals all live at the water’s edge in our parks. In bodies of water near intense uses of pesticides, such as at Lake Hiawatha, no more frogs are singing in the spring, and the beach is closed much more then it’s open due to water quality concerns.

“If we were to switch to organic management of spaces it would go a long way toward healing damaged bodies of water and encouraging wildlife to thrive.”

Standish-Ericsson resident Sean Connaughty spoke for the lake during the Mar. 16 meeting. He talked about the struggles Lake Hiawatha is facing and symptoms of sickness he has observed, including the high phosphorous levels, toxic algae blooms, and disappearance of amphibians. Connaughty believes that one of the reasons driving this problem is that the land around the lake is occupied by a golf course that uses a whole array of chemicals, including Roundup, “to treat the turf surrounding this delicate and threatened ecosystem.”

Connaughty added, “The parks can lead the way to more sustainable land use practices that can serve as a model for the community and help restore the balance to our natural systems which need our help, and which we need to survive as a species.”

He is disappointed that this new ban is limited to neighborhood parks, and will not affect chemical use at golf courses, ball fields, or regional parks.

Friends of Lake Hiawatha founder Ryan Seibold also supports the switch to organic parks. “Parks should be safe and healthy for us all,” said the father of two young children.

“The soils beneath our feet should be increasing in ecological services,” Seibold said, “instead of degrading due to micro-organism die-off from broad spectrum pesticides. The frogs and ducks deserve cleaner water and land without chemicals. And, our children should be able to play and run in landscapes where there isn’t a posted sign that says ‘keep off’ because it’s too poisonous.”

What’s the harm in using Roundup?
Over the past seven years, there have been more than 2,400 uses of pesticides in the parks.

However, Henry pointed that the Park’s Pesticide Fertilizer manager report does not include all of the chemicals applied to golf courses, as the tracking is still being done by paper there and is not digital.
Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world today. The U.S. is the largest consumer, using approximately 20% of the world’s Roundup, Monsanto’s flagship product. The latest reliable figures from the U.S. Geological Survey record 280 million pounds of Roundup were used in 2012, nearly a pound for every American.

Henry referred to a Global Research article showing that over the years a large body of independent research provides a sound scientific rationale to confirm that glyphosate is toxic and poses more serious health risks to animals and humans. Among the many diseases and disorders, non-industry studies identified Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism,  infertility, miscarriages, and neural tube and birth defects. It is a causal agent for a variety of cancers: brain, breast, prostate, lung and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Other disorders include chronic kidney and liver diseases, diabetes, heart disease, hypothyroidism, chronic respiratory illness, and leaky gut syndrome.

Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Roundup is a probable human carcinogen. Increasingly, world-wide national health ministries are taking a hard second look at glyphosate’s health and environmental dangers, and efforts are underway to ban the herbicide. The Netherlands, Bermuda, and Sri Lanka have either banned or imposed strict limits on Roundup. France has banned its use in gardens. Brazil, Germany, and Argentina are considering legislative bans.
A review of existing data sponsored by Moms Across America found that out of 21 drinking water samples analyzed, 13 had glyphosate levels between 0.08 and 0.3 ug/L, well below the EPA’s limit, but significantly above the European Union’s limit of 0.1 ug/L.

“A few extremely powerful agricultural chemical companies have poured millions of dollars into research at major universities to convince policy makers that their products should be pronounced mostly safe, should be left relatively unregulated, and should be adopted as standard practice,” observed Henry.

“This has led to people adopting ecologically damaging aesthetic preferences at home such as the use of pesticides to enforce a mono-cropped grass lawn.

“This poisons the homeowner, kills the forage for bees and butterflies, and damages the soil making it easier for weeds to grow back.”

The Park Board is not convinced
Henry is proposing that the Park Board do its landscaping the old-fashioned way, by hand. “We’re already paying staff to be out there spraying; we might as well just have them mechanically removing the weeds with tools or by hand,” he said.

“To transition to organic,” Henry said,” we need to replace chemical fertilizers that encourage weeds with liquid compost extract that can be sprayed on to help encourage microbes in the soil which feed plants naturally.  A transition to organic throughout the parks system shouldn’t happen overnight, but it should begin immediately.”

District 5 Commissioner Steffanie Musich expects the board to discuss other aspects of the Minneapolis Parks Herbicide Use Report 2016 as part of its budget planning process this year. She is concerned about the “significant costs associated with the recommended changes to staffing levels to further reduce our use of pesticides that cannot be accommodated in this year’s budget.”
The board will also be exploring the use of goats to control invasive species at two sites within the regional park system.

“Along with my colleagues, I support the MPRB’s work to continue reducing the amount of pesticide used within the system by directing staff to follow our Integrated Pest Management Policy,” said Musich. “I am also happy to support our naturalists and friends groups working throughout the city in educating park visitors about ways they can reduce the use of chemicals on their properties, too.”

However, Henry is concerned that the current park board commissioners do not support organic parks, with the exception of Commissioners John Erwin and Brad Bourn, and points to the comments made at the March meeting.

“The more commissioners spoke, the more it was apparent that a transition to organic parks won’t happen unless we elect new commissioners,” said Henry.

“Commissioners Annie Young, Steffanie Musich, Anita Tabb, and Jon Olson all stated that they believe pesticides will always need to be used in Minneapolis Parks. Vice president of the park board Scott Vreeland went a step further to let folks know that he thinks the Minneapolis Park Board should never transition to organic management.”

Henry encourages people to contact commissioners to share their opinions.

“I will continue to engage with neighbors to bring the message of transition to the Minneapolis Park Board,” said Henry. “Many residents feel that it’s time to move away from pesticides in our entire park system, and I will work to lift up their voices till they ring in the commissioners ears.”