Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board amends Code of Ordinances to codify park road and parkway names and process for naming or renaming park roads and parkways

Posted on 2 May, 2019

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Code of Ordinances has been amended to codify the names of all 42 existing public parkways and park roads under the jurisdiction of the MPRB. The new ordinance, PB9-300-304, also states that any action to name or rename a parkway or park road requires at least six affirmative votes by park commissioners.

Until now, a process for naming parkways and park roads that clearly directs authority to the MPRB did not exist in the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Code of Ordinances. Over the years, the MPRB designated or named parks and parkways by separate Board actions as it acquired property.

There is no state law that governs the process cities use to name property. Minnesota Statute, Section 412.221, subd.18 provides that the naming or renaming of streets must occur through ordinance, and while the statute does not directly apply to the MPRB, it frames a best practice and process that aligns with the MPRB ordinance addition.

The first reading of the ordinance addition was at the April 3, 2019 Board of Commissioners meeting. A public hearing on the matter also occurred at that meeting. MPRB Commissioners unanimously approved the ordinance addition at its following meeting on April 17, 2019, after a second reading. It took effect today, May 2, 2019. The specific language of the ordinance addition (see Resolution 2019-153) is as follows:

CHAPTER 9, Article X – ESTABLISHING AND NAMING PARKWAYS AND PARK ROADS

PB 9-300 Purpose.  The purpose of this article is to establish by ordinance the names of all public parkways and park roads under the jurisdiction of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.

PB 9-301. Authority to name and rename parkways and park roads.  The official name of all public parkways and park roads on land governed, administered, maintained, controlled, owned or held by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board in and adjacent to the city of Minneapolis shall be named and renamed consistent with the article.

BP 9-302. Names of public parkways and park roads.  The following names are given to the public parkways and park roads under the jurisdiction of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

  1. Calhoun Boulevard West: Runs from and betweenExcelsior Boulevard and 32nd Street West;
  2. Calhoun Drive: Runs from and between Lake of the Isles Parkway East and Calhoun Parkway East;
  3. Cedar Lake Parkway: Runs from and between Dean Parkway and along the east side of Cedar Lake and Theodore Wirth Parkway;
  4. Columbia Parkway: Runs along the northern border of Columbia Golf Course and Columbia Park from and between 5th St. Northeast and Central Avenue Northeast;
  5. Dean Parkway: Runs from and between Lake of the Isles Parkway West and West Lake Street;
  6. East Lake Calhoun Parkway: Runs along the east side of Bde Maka Ska from and between Calhoun Drive and Richfield Road;
  7. East Lake Harriet Parkway: Runs along the east side of Lake Harriet from and between 43rdStreet West and West Lake Harriet Parkway at Penn Avenue South;
  8. East Lake Nokomis Parkway: Runs along the east side Lake Nokomis to the east beginning at Minnehaha Parkway from and between Cedar Avenue South;
  9. East River Parkway: Runs along the east bank of the Mississippi River just south of Arlington Street on the University of Minnesota campus from and between Eustis Street;
  10. Emerson Avenue South: Runs through the Parade Grounds from Dunwoody Boulevard from and between Kenwood Parkway;
  11. Fulton Street South East: Runs from East River Parkway and between the parking lot between Pioneer and frontier Halls and the University of Minnesota Campus;
  12. Godfrey Parkway: Runs through the northern portion of Minnehaha State Park from and between Minnehaha Avenue and West River Parkway South;
  13. Harvard Street South East: Runs from and between East River Parkway and the mid-driveway of Pioneer Hall on the University of Minnesota Campus;
  14. James I. Rice West River Parkway: Runs from and between Plymouth Avenue North and Portland Avenue;
  15. Kenwood Parkway: Runs from and between West Lake of the Isles Parkway and Vineland adjacent to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden;
  16. Kings Highway: Runs from and between 36th Street West along Dupont Ave South to 46thStreet West, toward and to East Lake Harriet Pkwy;
  17. East Lake of the Isles Parkway: Runs along the eastern border of Lake of the Isles from and between FranklinAvenue West and Calhoun Drive;
  18. West Lake of the Isles Parkway: Runs along the western and southern border of Lake of the Isles from and between Franklin Avenue West and Calhoun Drive;
  19. Linden Hills Boulevard: Runs from and between 40th Street West and Queen Avenue South;
  20. Main Street Southeast: Runs from Hennepin Avenue East to Third Avenue Southeast;
  21. Minnehaha Avenue: Runs from and between Nawadaha Boulevard and Godfrey Circle;
  22. Minnehaha Parkway East: Runs along Minnehaha Creek from and between East Lake Harriet Parkway to Nicollet Avenue;
  23. Minnehaha Parkway West: Runs along Minnehaha Creek from and between Nicollet Avenue to Godfrey Parkway at Minnehaha Avenue;
  24. Old Soldier’s Home Road: Runs from and between Godfrey Parkway and Minnesota Veterans’ Home entrance
  25. Ridgway Parkway: Runs from and between New Brighton Boulevard and St. Anthony Parkway;
  26. Roseway Road: Runs from and between Kings Highway and East Lake Harriet Parkway;
  27. Anthony Parkway: Runs from and between 37thAvenue Northeast and Stinson Parkway;
  28. Stinson Parkway: Runs from and between St. Anthony Parkway and New Brighton Boulevard;
  29. The Mall: Runs from and between Hennepin Avenue and Calhoun Drive
  30. Theodore Wirth Parkway: Runs through Theodore Wirth Park from and between Lowry Avenue North and Cedar Lake Parkway;
  31. Thomas Avenue South: Runs from and between 44th Street West and 45th Street West;
  32. Victory Memorial Drive: Runs north and south from and between Lowry Avenue North and the Victory Memorial flagpole monument and runs east and west from and between the Victory Memorial Flagpole monument and Fremont Avenue North;
  33. West Lake Calhoun Parkway: Runs along the west and southeast side of Bde Maka Ska from between Lake Street West and William Berry Parkway;
  34. West Lake Harriet Parkway: Runs along west side of Lake Harriet from and between East Lake Harriet Parkway and Penn Avenue South;
  35. West Lake Nokomis Parkway: Runs along Lake Nokomis from and between Minnehaha Parkway and Cedar Avenue South;
  36. West River Parkway: Runs along the west bank of the Mississippi River from and between Portland Avenue South and Godfrey Parkway near Minnehaha Regional Park;
  37. William Berry Parkway: Runs from and between West Calhoun Parkway through William Park and East Lake Harriet Parkway;
  38. 4th Street South: Runs from and between 21st Avenue South and West River Parkway;
  39. 5th Street Northeast: Runs from and between Anthony Parkway and Columbia Parkway;
  40. 31st Avenue Northeast: Runs from and between Fillmore Street Northeast and Johnson Street Northeast on streets both north and south of St. Anthony Parkway;
  41. 45th Street South: Runs from and between Thomas Avenue South and West Lake Harriet Parkway; and
  42. 46th Street East: Runs from and between Cedar Avenue South and Longfellow Avenue.

PB 9-303. Required Vote.  Any action to name or rename a parkway or a park road requires at least six affirmative votes by park commissioners.

PB 9-304. Signage.  The superintendent shall ensure that each parkway or park road is clearly marked for the public.