Signage bearing the South Minneapolis park’s former name will be removed on Wednesday, May 7 at 10 am.
A MPRB contractor will remove the metal letters from the recreation center building and MPRB staff will remove the brown painted park sign and other signage. The signage will be taken to an MPRB operations building for temporary storage. No new signs will be installed at the park, which is now temporarily known as 40th Street Park, until a new park name is determined. 40th Street Park is located at 1900 E. 40th Street in Minneapolis.
Indigenous advisors asked the MPRB establish a process to consult with Indigenous community members and tribal governments when considering Indigenous names for parks. Once that process is established and the Park Board’s Naming Policy is updated, MPRB staff will collaborate with the MPRB Native American Parks Council to lead an Indigenous-centered process and timeline for determining a permanent name for the park.
A tentative community event had been planned for May; however, the Nawayee Center School, the event permit holder, has postponed the event and requested that the MPRB retain possession of the signs until a new date is confirmed. At that time, the MPRB will transfer possession of the signs in accordance with the direction of the Nawayee Center School.