Smaller was an educator and activist who served Northside youth for more than 50 years
Posted on 23 February, 2024The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is hosting a second public hearing on a request to rename Farwell Park to “Lorraine B. Smaller Park” on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. The hearing is scheduled at 5:45 pm in the Board Room at Mary Merrill Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Headquarters, 2117 West River Road.
Farwell Park is located at 1201 N Sheridan Ave. According to MPRB records, the park was named for Farwell Place, the origin of which is unknown. The park was named in the original 1889 plat and the name was never officially adopted or changed.
Lorraine Smaller lived and worked in North Minneapolis for more than 50 years. She was an educator and activist who founded the We Care Performing Arts Program at Farwell Park. She advocated for increased investment and improved maintenance at Farwell Park and provided free summertime performing arts programs for Northside youth.
Participate in the Public Hearing
Speak in person: Go to the MPRB Headquarters on the day of the hearing and add your name to the sign-up sheet at the front desk. You can also call 612-230-6400 before 3 pm on March 20 to sign up to speak.
Email written comments: Email your comments to opentime@minneapolisparks.org by 3 pm on March 20. Comments will be included in the public record of the meeting.
Next Steps
This is the second public hearing of two required by the MPRB Naming Policy. The naming request is tentatively scheduled to be considered by the MPRB Planning Committee on March 20. A final consideration by the full Board of Commissioners is tentatively scheduled April 3. It will require six votes to pass the full Board on April 3.
The MPRB Naming Policy dictates that the Board of Commissioners wait two years to take a final vote after the nomination is made. After further research, it was determined that the initial request to rename Farwell Park was made in March 2022, so if approved by MPRB Commissioners, the new park name could go into effect after the April 3 vote.