A public hearing on the concept plan for Phase 1 Play Area Improvements at Keewaydin Park will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 6:30pm. The hearing allows individuals to comment on the concept plan by speaking to the Board of Commissioners or submitting written comments; see details on these options below.
The Phase 1 concept plan (available on the project website) includes decommissioning the existing pool and addition of the following features in a new play area:
- Climbable stacked boulder hills and walls
- Free-standing bouldering monoliths
- Zip line
- Separate age 2-5 and 5-12 play zones with adventure towers
- Creative nature play area with art and performance spaces
- Sand play area, slides, basket swing, and spinner
- Native plantings and naturalized stormwater area
- Picnic areas and seating
Next steps for the project
- Board approval: Following the public hearing before MPRB’s Planning Committee, the full Board of Commissioners will consider approving the concept plan.
- Final design, construction bids: With Board approval, project staff will develop a final design for the project and receive bids from construction contractors.
- Construction: With a successful bid, project construction is planned to begin in summer 2022, with completion in fall 2022.
How to submit public hearing comments
Currently, virtual Board meetings are authorized under Minn. Stat. 13D.021, due to the local public health emergency (novel coronavirus pandemic). Members of the public are not permitted inside the Mary Merrill Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Headquarters for Board meetings.
Community members who wish to offer comments may call into the meeting or send written comments to be included in the record and shared with Commissioners, who attend Board meetings remotely by telephone or other electronic means.
Call (recommended)
To provide comments by phone during the public hearing, complete the Virtual Speaker Signup Form before 12 noon on December 1.
- Speakers will receive a call-in number and conference ID one hour before the meeting
- Speakers call into the meeting at the scheduled time using the call-in number and conference ID
- Speakers enter the meeting and the committee chair provides guidance for commenting
- Speakers can watch the usual meeting broadcast
- Be aware of the 20-30 second lag between the call and the broadcast
- Please turn off the broadcast sound when called on to speak
Write
Send comments by 12 noon on December 1 to jringold@minneapolisparks.org.