Thank you all for your patience as the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, and City of Minneapolis continues its work at Bryn Mawr Meadows Park. The two water quality ponds are installed and connected to the stormwater sewer system. Stormwater from the neighborhood and areas along I-394 now drain through the ponds, helping to settle out silt and remove phosphorus prior to entering Bassett Creek. The ponds will also act as new habitat for our animal and bird friends. Soon the pond’s edges and over nine acres of park area will be planted with native wildflower and grass seed and plugs. A temporary fence will encircle the areas planted with native prairie plants for about three years during the establishment period. Keeping people out of these prairie areas and maintaining them for the first few years is essential to their success. All trails and other public areas will be open during the prairie establishment. There will also be over six acres of bee lawn (UMN mix of fescues, self-heal, and clover) and 114 trees planted throughout the site.
Over the next few weeks, the site will be rough graded, much of the two new ballfields will be installed, and the park’s new trails will be graded. Focus on the two ballfields now is important, so the grass seed can germinate and establish as soon as possible before the heat of the summer.