A stroll through Langford Park
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Langford Park on a July afternoon is a hive of activity. Continue Reading
Flood sketching and a modest/awesome riverfront proposal
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Roberta and I did a lot of sketching of the flooding in Downtown Saint Paul. We wanted to document the changing landscape as water gradually replaced land. There’s a slideshow of our flood sketches at the PiPress. Here’s one of the sketches I did from the Robert Street Bridge of the Port of Saint Paul’s Lowertown Landing submerged beneath the roiling Mississippi River [above]. Continue Reading
Northeast Minneapolis residents, unhappy with pace of riverfront park development, ask: How long is temporary?
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What the park board staff see as an internal operations matter, some neighborhood activists see as a slide backwards from progress toward continuous parkland along the river. Anyone hoping to influence the outcome will have just a couple of weeks to write letters and attend a public hearing anticipated July 16.
E-DEMOCRACY | After loss of Black Bear Crossing, what’s next for Como Park Pavilion?
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Renee Jenson posted at 6:50pm, Jun 19:…Rumors are floating around about what the city intends to do with the Pavillion at Como Park. I think Como Park is a treasure of the city and that process needs to fully open and unbiased so everyone can have their say in it. Many of us in the Como area are appalled that we lost Black Bear Crossing and didn’t even have a chance to storm City Hall with our protest signs chanting “2-4-6-8, Black Bear Crossing is really Great”.Anyway, how does the City plan to keep everyone fully informed about next steps in the process? You got me posting again so you know what they say, things are not well down in Whoville.Renee JensonNOTE: According to a June 15 PiPress article by Frederick Melo, Black Bear Crossing will close “at the end of the year,” even after winning the first round of a lawsuit against the city.Jeanne Weigum posted at 7:10pm, Jun 19:You won’t be hearing me cry over the loss of Black Bear at Como, having had numerous bad experiences there. My understanding is the City plans to do some patron surveying to determine community interest. Continue Reading
June 21: Imagine an Ayd Mill linear park
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Next Saturday, June 21, from 1-4pm, Neighborhoods First, a community group in Saint Paul’s Merriam Park, will be hosting an event on the corner of Summit Avenue and Syndicate Street. The event is titled “Imagine an Ayd Mill Linear Park.” There will be speakers, music, food and exhibits. It will be an opportunity for community members to look at what is currently known as “Ayd Mill Road” and imagine what it could look like as a linear park, or something other than a freeway. Continue Reading
OPINION | Taking the public out of a public park
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Sharing public amenities is only slightly less controversial than funding public amenities. The new Vikings stadium adjoins an equally new Minneapolis public park. The Minnesota Vikings and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission retain exclusive use for 80-100 days per year. The park represents a new economic development direction that presents itself as one thing, a park, while behaving as another, an athletic performance venue.
Planting temporary parks with Amanda Lovelee
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The podcast this week is a conversation with Amanda Lovelee, a public artist and urban designer who is currently working as an artists-in-residence for the City of Saint Paul. Amanda has a fascinating resumé of public art projects that promote engagement and use urban space in a variety of interesting ways. Her latest project is a temporary two-year park installation in downtown Saint Paul in a vacant lot that once housed a luggage store. We sat down on a circle of paving stones in the middle of what will be the new park, called Flower Field. [Audio below] Continue Reading
Hampden Park under construction through July
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Hampden Park will undergo a major stormwater improvement project starting this month. The park is at the intersection of Raymond and Hampden avenues in south St. Anthony Park.
Dog Park detective: Lake of the Isles
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The Day: May 22, a gorgeous and sunny 60 degrees
The Dog: Bella the Dutch Shepherd Mix (and one of our Special Dogs Seeking a Special Home)
The Park: Lake of the Isles Off-Leash Park in Minneapolis Continue Reading
E-DEMOCRACY | Lake Hiawatha Master Plan and improvements
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Kyle Werremeyer posted at 9:54pm, May 16SENA neighbors – little did you know that Lake Hiawatha is part of something bigger!Our little lake is technically part of the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park and the whole park is getting a once over and a new long term 20 year master plan. These improvements and long term plannings are well overdue as the last major master plan for the Nokomis Hiawatha Region Park was written in 1934. Yes, 1934. Go to this link for much more informationhttp://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=1475&SearchID=519831Chris Lautenschlager and I have been appointed to the Community Advisory Committee for this project. As we move forward over the next year plus I’d like to report back to the community as Chris and I advocate (and agitate) for Lake Hiawatha specifically and the Nokomis-Hiawatha Regional Park generally. Continue Reading