The Parks for All Youth Design Team is a group of youth from across the City, who are working with MPRB staff, the Community Advisory Committee, Community-based organizations, artists and many others to help create the 2020 Minneapolis Park Comprehensive Plan. More specifically, the Youth Design Team positions are paid and a great opportunity for youth interested in policy and planning to gain applicable community engagement and career- building skills and experience by:

  • Assisting with community idea and input gathering;
  • Learning about the staff, history, agency, and systems that make up the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board;
  • Talking to youth and adults about how they use and want to improve parks through engagement in formal meetings and informal park events;
  • Making policy recommendations;
  • Working with staff at the MPRB to develop policy guidance for the agency

Youth Design Team Bios

Here are the members of the Youth Design Team and a little about each of them!

Age: 15 years

School/Grade: I’m going into the 10th grade at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka.

Favorite Park and Why I wanted to be a part of the Youth Design Team: My favorite park is Fairview because I practice for crew rowing there in the winter season, they also have a very welcoming staff.

Why you are excited to serve on the Youth Design Team and work on the Comprehensive Plan: I’m excited for the youth design team because I think that youth should get to decide what happens in the parks because we use them so much, I also want to see how policies are made and implemented at the MPRB.

Age: 15 years

School/Grade: I am a sophomore at Roseville Area High School.

Favorite Park and Why I wanted to be a part of the Youth Design Team: My favorite Minneapolis park is Logan Park because I live very close to it, so I walk there almost every day and I really enjoy and appreciate it.

I am very excited to work on the Youth Design Team and with the Comprehensive Plan because it will be a great learning experience, and I am looking forward to working with and meeting new people.

Age: 14 years

School/Grade: I go to Roseville Area High School and I am going into my sophomore year.

Favorite Park and Why I wanted to be a part of the Youth Design Team: My favorite park is probably Logan and Cherokee Parks because they are really nice parks with lots of open space and I can walk to them from where I live.

Being part of the Youth Design Team, I am looking forward to sharing my ideas and love for the parks with other youth while working on the Youth Design Team as part of the Comprehensive Plan.

Age: 16 years

School/Grade: DeLasalle High School Sophomore.

Favorite Park and Why I wanted to be a part of the Youth Design Team: My favorite park is Windom Park in Northeast. I have grown up across the street from Windom and have always enjoyed spending time there. It is a place where I was always able to have fun when I was younger, and I understand now how lucky I was to have such a safe and accessible place to play.

I am thrilled to be a part of the Youth Design Team, and to able to assess the needs of the community and work with the team to make actual changes that will benefit everyone.

Age: 16 years

School/Grade: I attended Edison High School but this fall I will be a Freshmen at Minneapolis Community Technical College

Favorite Park and Why I wanted to be a part of the Youth Design Team: Jackson Square Park

I love animals and being out side and parks give a place for animals to live and for me to be in nature. I really enjoy our parks and hope to make them better for all people to enjoy and appreciate.

Age: 17 years old

School/Grade: I go to Washburn High School and I am in the 11th grade

Favorite Park and Why I wanted to be a part of the Youth Design Team: My favorite park is Bryant Square because that is the place I do most of my activities. I also enjoy being there with friends.

I’m excited to be part of this group because I get to learn new things and get to work with all the youth here.

Park Board Announcements

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