Online survey on revised Minneapolis Parks Ecological System Plan closes June 1

Posted on 19 May, 2020

Board of Commissioners will consider final document after public hearing this summer

An online survey for the public to comment on the revised draft of the Minneapolis Ecological System Plan closes June 1. Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff will incorporate comments into the final plan and bring it to the Board of Commissioners for consideration this summer. A public hearing will take place before Commissioners consider the revised plan.

Anyone can comment on the plan online using the link below. The plan is also linked below and on the project page (www.minneapolisparks.org/ecoplan).

The document was only made available digitally due to the the stay-at-home order and indefinite closure of MPRB buildings to the public. If you have difficulty accessing the digital version, please contact project manager Adam Arvidson by emailing aarvidson@minneapolisparks.org or calling 612-230-6470.

View Ecological System Plan

  1. Introduction [PDF]
  2. Water [PDF]
  3. Air [PDF]
  4. Land [PDF]
  5. Life [PDF]
  6. Recommendations and Next Steps [PDF]
  7. Appendix: Maps [PDF]

Online Survey

Project Background

The first formal draft of the plan was open for public comment from Feb. 14, 2019 to May 12, 2019. Approximately 280 unique comments were received during that time.

Many of the comments expressed concern with the overall organization of the document or requested clarity on what the MPRB was committing to in the plan. That general sentiment, even more than specific individual comments, drove a reorganization of the document and rethinking of how the policy recommendations are communicated.

Normally, after a public comment period the MPRB would bring a revised plan to the Board of Commissioners for a formal public hearing and consideration for approval. In this case, the document has changed significantly and nearly a year has passed since the formal comment period ended, so the revised draft was released for another round of comments. This round is not considered another formal 45-day comment period, although it will function similar to one.

Public Comment Themes

MPRB staff summarized approximately 280 comments from the 2019 comment period and grouped them into topic areas. That information led to changes in the plan. Detailed comments will be shared publicly and with the Board of Commissioners prior to adoption of the Ecological System Plan, along with any new comments on the Revised Draft. The MPRB is not providing detail at this time on how specific comments led to specific changes because the plan has significantly changed.

The following is an overview of public feedback received in 2019, grouped into eight major themes:

Carbon Emissions: suggestions to commit to a 100% zero-emissions fleet, suggestions for more solar on park buildings

Ecology and Habitat: concern about prioritization of recreation over habitat, suggestion for a stronger commitment to natural areas, support for native plants and habitat connectivity, suggestion for stronger language around light pollution

Plan Functionality: concerns about lack of detail and strength in the recommendations, concern about the lack of accountability in the plan, concern that the plan doesn’t link together topics and doesn’t go far enough

Landscape Management: suggestion to focus on native trees and plants, support for reduced mowing and other environmental management practices

Pesticides: opposition to pesticide use in parks, suggestion for extremely limited use of chemicals in parks

Trees: support for retention of standing dead trees for habitat, suggestion to strengthen language around limiting tree removal, suggestion to require no net tree loss from parks

Water Quality: suggestion for no net increase of stormwater runoff from parks, support for strategies to reduce trash in water bodies

Wildlife: concern about lack of details related to wildlife and their habitat, opposition to current wildlife management techniques, concern about limited mention of Mississippi Flyway, suggestion to protect areas if high wildlife value from human impacts, suggestion to adjust high impact activities in parks to avoid nesting and migration seasons, suggestion to require buildings and lighting to be bird safe