Community chats about Hiawatha Golf Course during focus sessions

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Community members shared their thoughts about the Hiawatha Golf Course during informal focus sessions in November.
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) held two of five focus session meetings on Nov. 8 at the Nokomis Recreation Center.
“The sessions are a tool for park board staff and the design team to listen to the community’s conversations surrounding specific themes,” explained MPRB Design Project Manager Tyler Pederson.
“Nov. 8 night’s focus on ‘environment’ and ‘neighbors’ was very successful. The team heard many great comments from the community and comments from folks we had not yet heard from.”
There were four tables of between six to eight community members. Each table was asked to record their comments and conversations on sheets of paper and on large maps.
Photo right: Community Advisory Committee member Sean Connaughty (second from left) chats with community members during informal focus sessions on neighborhood and environment at the Nokomis Recreation Center on Nov. 8. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Some comments revolved around watershed issues.
“The city, park board, and Minnehaha Creek Watershed want residents to see the problems as individual areas; however, we do not and cannot understand how they can be separated when the whole watershed drains into Lake Hiawatha (all 180 square miles),” stated Joan Soholt in an email following the focus session. She is a CAC member who is also part of the Nokomis/Hiawatha Water Sustainability group. Fellow group member Monica McNaughton also pushed for a comprehensive study that incorporates the changing climate and a bigger area than just the golf course.
Safety, art, changing the fence, creating a trail around the entire lake, and wetland restoration were also among the topics discussed.
More focus sessions planned
Two more sessions were held on Nov. 13 at Hiawatha Golf Course that focused on “golf” and “African American history” at Minneapolis golf courses.
The fifth session on Indigenous history is being planned with help from those communities.
As the Hiawatha Golf Course Community Advisory Committee (CAC) moves through its planning process, committee meetings will be interspersed with community focus sessions.
Photo left: The environment and neighborhood were topics during informal focus sessions on neighborhood and environment at the Nokomis Recreation Center on Nov. 8. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Another series of focus sessions is expected in late January/early February 2019, and a third set in late February/early March.
By the CAC’s seventh meeting in April, it is expected to have a draft master plan and final CAC recommendations that will go out to the community for a 45-day review period. The planning committee will then hold a public hearing on the plan, and the board of commissioners will vote on the issue in July 2019.
Visioning
At the same time, the community advisory committee is working to create a vision to guide their work at Hiawatha Golf Course.
At the October 2018 meeting, CAC members reviewed the vision statement developed in 2015 for the larger Nokomis-Hiawatha Master Plan. (The golf course wasn’t included in the master planning process for the regional park at the time.)
Photo right: A focus session about the history of African American golfers at Hiawatha Golf Course was held on Nov. 13. (Photo courtesy of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board)
The vision of the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park Master Plan is to maintain Nokomis-Hiawatha’s status as a premier regional park by enhancing the existing well-loved amenities and adding select new features. The park will continue to offer a range of recreation activities located primarily within three identified focus areas, rather than scattering active uses throughout the park. The remaining parkland will be used for more natural amenities, passive recreation, and trail use.
Guy Michaelson of Berger Partnership pointed out that the landscape is steeped in legacy, it’s cherished and historic, it’s a treasured destination, and it’s gathering place.
In addition to enhancing the human experience, there’s also the opportunity to strengthen ecology, and the two can thrive together, encouraged Michaelson. He believes there are innovative ways to solve the stormwater problem while creating a cool park experience and building “in-fun-structure.”
Michaelson suggested that CAC members welcome absurdity because along the way those are the ideas that are memorable and create special places.
Ultimately, he stated that the lens to look through for this project is the Grand Rounds legacy of ecology, equity, recreation, and experience.
Community members may contribute to the visioning process at https://form.jotform.com/composidore/lake-hiawatha-visioning.

 Article printed in the December 2018 Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Residents design ‘dream playground’ at Longfellow Park

Project delayed by unexpectedly long lead times for equipment, but installation anticipated for mid-August

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Installation of the new Longfellow playground has been delayed, but planners are confident it will be worth the wait.
Unexpectedly long lead times for procuring equipment have delayed the project at Longfellow, as well as at the Washburn Ave. Tot Lot this summer.
“The long lead times are the result of a number of factors that could include recent economic developments, as well as a huge influx of projects which is causing a backlog of orders for equipment with the playground vendors,” explained Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Design Project Manager Crystal Passi. “Overall, this is a pretty busy construction season.”
Photo right: Work at the site began in June when the old equipment was removed, the site graded, and a fence erected. The pool has remained open during the project. The current playground equipment at Longfellow Park was installed in the late 1980s and had reached the end of its lifespan, according to park board staff. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Installation of the new playground equipment is now anticipated to begin in mid-August.
Work at the site began in June when the old equipment was removed, the site graded, and a fence erected. The pool has remained open during the project.
Over 200 help design playground
When complete, the playground will include the feedback from over 200 people who attended multiple open houses and events. Kids and their grown-ups were invited to share thoughts and opinions.
“Thanks to all the community who came out to meetings and events, and provided feedback and helped to design the playground at Longfellow,” stated Passi.
She appreciated the viewpoint that children brought to the discussion.
“Kids brought some of the best and most creative ideas to the table,” remarked Passi.
“I think kids were most excited by monkey bars and climbing structure options. I think they will really enjoy the climbing and spinning ‘Global Motion’ feature because many kids can play on it at once, and it’s accessible for people of all abilities.”
Passi also believes this Global Motion spinner by Landscape Structures will set this playground apart as there aren’t many in Minneapolis.
Adults pushed for the use of natural colors at the playground, and stressed the importance of providing options for both younger and older children, stated Passi.
Meeting in the middle
MPRB received many comments from residents who wanted the sand surfacing to go away because it gets stuck in shoes and is perceived as messy, explained Passi. At the same time, people wanted a sand play area for younger children because it is such a tactile play element.
Photo left: The upgraded playground at Longfellow will feature a Global Motion spinner, monkey bars, climbing options, little house, engineered wood fiber surface, small sand play area (not shown on rendering) and more. (Illustration courtesy of Minneapolis Parks and Recreation)
“I think we met in the middle by removing the sand as the main surfacing and switching to engineered wood fiber with a poured-in-place resilient surfacing for transfer points and connections to several features,” said Passi. “However, we also included a small separate sand play area that will sit directly adjacent to the playground. (Not shown in the renderings).”
The new playground will be a bit larger than before as MPRB created more space by removing a concrete pathway that used to divide it into two sections.
“This made it possible to fit more equipment into the site even with new fall zone standards that have changed since the original equipment went in,” remarked Passi.
The current playground equipment at Longfellow Park was installed in the last 1980s and had reached the end of its lifespan, according to park board staff. The components and wood structure were worn and began 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 to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ASTM guidelines.
Dream playground
At the community open houses, residents used wood puzzles with equipment pieces made to scale to design their “dream playground.” MPRB staff took pictures of all the creations, and used these ideas, along with hundreds of comments and dotmocracy boards, to design a playground that includes most, if not all, of the features that space and budget would accommodate. “I think people will be pleased with the design overall,” said Passi.
“I believe younger kids will really enjoy the little house for imaginative play,” she added. “I think older kids will find that the large climbing structure has tons of different activities, which is something kids were adamant about.”

Free youth soccer league kicks off in Nokomis with NENA’s help

NENA and park board partner with father-son team to offer a regular activity for kids at Bossen’s multi-use fields

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Thanks to a father-son team, nearly 400 kids are participating in a free youth soccer league on Saturdays at Bossen Field.
José Garcia and his 20-year-old son José (Beto) Garcia approached the Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA) in December 2017 about
starting a soccer league in the neighborhood. They have been running an informational soccer skills group that meets about two times a week and wanted to do something more formal.
The Garcias asked NENA for help finding field space as they were tired of getting kicked off baseball fields.
NENA agreed to approach the Park Board with the Garcias, in part due to community response from a set of activities held last year courtesy of a grant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Photo right: Father and son, José Garcia (left) and José “Beto” Garcia, have been running a soccer skills group in the Nokomis neighborhood that grew into a free, 24-team soccer league this summer. “We’re doing this for the reason that we want to help our community and we want to share the disciplines of this beautiful sport,” stated José Garcia. “We want to teach them the values of respect, leadership, gratitude and compassion for each other.” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
NENA used the grant funds to put on a series of activities with the Park Board, including flag football, soccer, and birdhouse making at the multi-use fields at Bossen, explained NENA Community Organizer Karla Guadalupe Arredondo-Payan. Residents asked for more activities for younger kids.
A free soccer league answered that request.
“We are here to serve residents. We don’t dictate the events going on. We ask for resident input,” observed Arredondo-Payan.
She added, “We want to help build the community.”
The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB) supplies the goal posts, soccer balls, and other equipment. NENA provides the paint to mark the fields and other items as needed.
While the multi-use fields don’t have soccer markings, they are free compared to the soccer fields that are rented by groups.
Open to every race and gender
The league includes 24 teams that were organized by each coach and began playing in late May. The league will continue through Sept. 22, and conclude with a big end-of-the-season celebration. Games are held between 8:30am and 4pm on Saturdays.
The coaches met at NENA’s office in April to iron out the rules of the league, which focus on good sportsmanship and safety. The Garcias were clear that they can’t run a league alone, but need the commitment of coaches and others to make it happen.
“It’s not an easy task to be a leader, but we’re trying to do the best we can to satisfy everyone,” stated Beto Garcia.
Photo left: Members of the soccer league meet up during the week at Bossen field to practice, despite the rainy weather on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
This year, the Garcias are focusing on creating a strong league that puts a priority on skill-building and teams. Next year, they may add other amenities such as food trucks.
They will also evaluate whether to offer a winter league based on demand from participants.
The league seeks to be inclusive and is open to every race and gender. While many of the players from South Minneapolis are from the Latino community, the majority from St. Paul are of Asian descent. There are also African American and Caucasian players.
“We’re working together to build something for all of us,” said Garcia.
Giving back
In addition to helping to run the league with his father, Garcia coaches a team of 10-year-olds. He sees his role as more than just instilling the discipline of soccer skills. It’s also about team building and respect.
When two of his team members argued recently, he stepped in to help them resolve their differences by modeling respect and conflict resolution.
Beto is inspired by his father and what he’s done to give back to his community by sharing his love of soccer.
The Latino community is passionate about soccer, pointed out Garcia, so he and his father wanted to build upon that interest. Plus, they recognize that parents appreciate some help with their kids.
“A lot of the kids spend so much time on PlayStation or video games,” pointed out Garcia. “They have a lack of exercise in the summertime.”
“Families and kids really enjoy playing soccer,” agreed Arredondo-Payan. “It gets them physically active and doing something productive.”
For Garcia, his work as a volunteer comes down to “inspiration, motivation, and dedication for our community.”
He added, “We just feel inspired, and we know that this is important for kids and families.”
For more information, contact Beto Garcia at 612-707-1499.

Citizens worry sewer project will decrease flow to Coldwater Spring

Replacing 90-year-old sewer tunnel under Minnehaha Creek that is in danger of leaking sewage into groundwater

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Will a sewer tunnel project in south Minneapolis affect how much water flows at Coldwater Spring?
Some people are worried that it will, and this has prompted the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) to revise its original plan for the regional sewer interceptor tunnel. Yet some Coldwater Spring supporters don’t think the risk has been eliminated.
Photo right: Nobody knows where Coldwater’s source waters come from. Tom Holtzleiter of Preserve Camp Coldwater Coalition is pushing local government agencies to pinpoint the exact location of that fracture that feeds water towards the spring. “More and more projects are going to come up, and they’re going to need to know where that line is,” stated Holtzleiter. “So far they’ve gotten lucky and not hit it. But sooner or later they’re going to run across it.” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Tom Holtzleiter has been active in working to preserve Coldwater Spring for the past 20 years. A current resident of Bloomington, Holtzleiter grew up playing at Coldwater Spring. When the Highway 55/62 interchange was redone in 2002, Holtzleiter led a group, the Preserve Camp Coldwater Coalition, which pushed for the installation of an 8-acre liner to isolate the road from the nearby spring.
Coldwater Spring, located on the southern end of Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis, is considered sacred by some Minnesota tribes and has been home to people for 10,000 years. Dubbed the birthplace of Minnesota, it was the first place European settlers lived when Fort Snelling was being built in 1820. As recently as 1976, Coldwater was an emergency drinking water supply for south Minneapolis when the city’s water supply was “putrid with algae,” according to www.friendsofcoldwater.org.
Managed since 2010 by the National Park Service as part of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Coldwater is the last natural spring of size in Hennepin County.
Sewer line failing
The existing regional sanitary sewer tunnel about 40 feet under Minnehaha Creek near 3901 Minnehaha Pkwy. E. is deteriorated and in danger of leaking wastewater (sewage) into the groundwater in the future.
This sewer pipe has served the city of Minneapolis and MCES since the mid-1930s, but it now needs some attention, according to Tim O’Donnell of MCES.
“The long-term environmental risks are too great to do nothing,” stated O’Donnell.
Photo left: A sewer tunnel project near 3901 Minnehaha Parkway E. may affect the flow of water at Coldwater Spring, but the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) is working to minimize the impact. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
The regional sanitary sewer collects wastewater via local sanitary sewers from South Minneapolis (south of approximately E, 42nd St.) and about one-third of Edina. MCES conveys the wastewater through additional regional sanitary sewers through Minneapolis and St. Paul to the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant (Metro Plant) located about three miles southeast of downtown St. Paul.
Plan changed to avoid dewatering
Originally, MCES planned to replace the existing, damaged regional sanitary sewer with a new deep sewer tunnel. That would have required dewatering of the limestone bedrock—that is, temporarily lowering the groundwater level in the limestone layer by pumping it out.
Recognizing that this had the potential of impacting groundwater flow to Coldwater Spring, which is located approximately 1.5 miles southeast of the sewer tunnel, MDES decided to rehabilitate the existing tunnel instead, which will not require dewatering.
However, this will still involve drilling up to three ventilation shafts into the limestone bedrock.
According to O’Donnell, the shafts will allow fresh air to be transferred into the deep tunnel system for workers’ safety.
“These ventilation shafts are necessary to meet strict OSHA requirements for working in underground, confined spaces,” he said. “The shafts will be encased in steel and grouted in place, which will allow groundwater to flow around them without affecting the flow to Coldwater Spring.”
However, Hotzleiter isn’t so sure. He’s worried that any drilling through the limestone into the sandstone beneath will break the seal. It’s possible that if this happens, water will flow towards the Mississippi River another way, and the flow at Coldwater will trickle away to nothing.
There has also been some disagreement about how much water has flowed through Coldwater in the past, and how much is going through now.
There is a monitoring point on the southern wetland but not one on the spring reservoir north of it, so the data only shows part of the complete picture, pointed out Holtzleiter.
MDES received a mix of comments at the May 22 public hearing and in writing. “People appreciate that MCES had re-evaluated the alternatives and found an alternative that would not impact the groundwater flow to Coldwater Spring,” stated O’Donnell. “Others were concerned with temporary park and trail access impacts during construction and some tree loss. And the Friends of Coldwater and its followers, and some members of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Community are opposed to MCES installing two or three ventilation shafts from the ground surface down to the regional sanitary sewer pipe that will be rehabilitated.”
The National Park Service, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the city of Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) support the revised project.
Where is the fracture line?
Nobody knows where Coldwater’s source waters come from. The consensus is that about two-thirds of the groundwater flows to the spring through basal Platteville limestone to the north and west. Beneath this 20 feet of limestone is 70 feet of sandstone. Much of the water flowing into Coldwater moves along a fracture line, but the exact location of that fracture has never been determined. Engineers have guessed that it is near where the sewer tunnel work is planned, but it could be 20 feet away or right at the project site.
Holtzleiter is pushing local government agencies to pinpoint the exact location of that fracture.
“More and more projects are going to come up, and they’re going to need to know where that line is,” stated Holtzleiter. “So far they’ve gotten lucky and not hit it. But sooner or later they’re going to run across it.”
He pointed out that the budget of this current project is $31 million, and believes a concurrent study of the fracture line would be a “drop in the bucket” comparatively.
Construction begins next year
MDES is working to finalize the project design and will then select a contractor. Construction will take place between spring 2019 to fall 2021.
Bike/walking trails and streets may be affected during this project, but MCES is working with the city of Minneapolis and the MPRB to minimize potential disruptions.
MDES will also work with the National Park Service to increase their monitoring of water flows into Coldwater Spring during the construction project.
“In the unlikely event that there are changes to these water flows during our construction project, we will know that quickly and will make any necessary modifications to our construction,” stated O’Donnell.

Future repairs, master plan ahead for entire Minnehaha Creek

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Minnehaha Creek is getting attention in Minneapolis this year.
The first project will fix erosion problems that sprang from flooding in 2014, while the second will create a master plan for the 39 acres of parkland along the creek.
Both projects were discussed during two identical open houses in April.
FEMA repairs this fall
In 2014, the Twin Cities saw the wettest first half of the year since modern-day record keeping began in 1871, with June 2014 being the wettest month on record. Coupled with a long winter and late snowmelt, this extreme precipitation led to a record flow on Minnehaha Creek and prolonged flooding throughout most of the spring and summer, according to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD).
MCWD, together with the city of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board (MPRB), are working together to repair the erosion caused by flood damage, improve water quality, and improve access to the creek.
Thirteen places have been highlighted for work that will cost a total of $1 million. Of that, $500,000 will come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and must be spent by June 2019.
Work will begin in September 2018 and be finished by June 2019.
Photo right: Citizens attended an open house on Apr. 17 open house at Lynnhurt Recreation Center to learn more about upcoming projects occurring around Minnehaha Creek. An open house was also held on Apr. 12 at the Lake Nokomis Recreation Center; both provided the same information. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
The project has been divided into three areas. The first, west of 35W to Emerson, involves four sites. The second, from 35W east to Portland, has two sites in need of repair.
The remaining seven site projects are at Minnehaha Park.
The project includes a few walls constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s that are part of the Ground Rounds historic district. The historical society will weigh in on whether to remove or fix these walls.
At Minnehaha Park, the bridge at the base of the falls was eroded by high water. Nearby, stormwater and hillside run-off damaged the trail. In other areas, a rock slab collapsed, riprap was washed away, and boardwalk was undermined.
Most of the erosion issues will be solved by installing riprap (large stones), live plant stakes, and plants to stabilize the soil, explained MCWD Project and Land Manager Tiffany Schaufler.
Throughout this process, planners have also identified 13 storm sewer outfalls that drain directly into the creek as top priorities. The MPRB and city will work to figure out the best way to filter out pollutants from these outfalls and incorporate these solutions in future work near the creek, said Schaufler. This might include rain gardens, underground storage, or other types of soil infiltration methods. The report is new, and planners are still digesting the information, she pointed out.
Master plan in the works
In the early 1900s, the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board began acquiring property along the Minnehaha Creek—even though the city of Minneapolis only extended to Franklin Ave. at the time and everything farther out was farmland.
Under the direction of Theodore Wirth in the 1920s and 1930s, the creek was straightened in many places, and the parkway/carriageway installed.
Photo left: Lisa Goodard of Minneapolis Public Works chats with Nokomis resident Teresa Miller during the Apr. 17 open house. Miller is keeping a close eye on water issues in the area, concerned because of the perpetual flooding in her backyard that is adjacent to Solomon Park. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
In the 1960s and 1970s, the Eckbo Plan guided improvements along the creek. The roadway was paved its signature pink, and bicycle and walking trails separated. The pedestrian bridges were built in 1978.
“Since then, no master planning has been done,” pointed out MPRB Project Manager Adam Arvidson. “We’re overdue.”
He’s leading a comprehensive look at the parkland to fashion a master plan that looks ahead 20-30 years.
A Community Action Committee (CAC) is in the process of being formed and will begin meeting soon. A plan is expected to be created and approved by the MPRB of commissioners in January 2019.
Among the questions raised are whether MPRB should extend its system of trails all the way west of Lynnhurst Park to the city line. Right now, the trails head north at the parkway to Lake Harriet and do not extend any farther west.
Another question is whether more canoe launches should be added. Currently, there is one near Lyndhurst, one at Lake Nokomis, and one proposed for Lake Hiawatha.
Public input was solicited at two open houses in April, and a survey is available online at the MPRB project website to collect comments. Citizens can also sign up to receive project updates.