Southwest Parks Plan Update: Final CAC meeting scheduled October 7; recap of Meeting #15

The final Southwest Parks Plan meeting will be on Oct. 7, 5;30-8:30 pm at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center

The process of developing, recommending and approving design concepts that will guide future development for every Minneapolis neighborhood park south of I-394 and west of I-35W [PDF] continues to move forward. These park designs have been developed as part of the long-term plan for the area’s parks, known as the Southwest Service Area Master Plan, Southwest Parks Plan for short.

All of the revised concepts are linked below under “Park Concepts,” along with a link to an online survey where anyone can give feedback on the concepts until the project Community Advisory Committee (CAC) makes its final recommendation.


Meeting Schedule

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) phase of the project is coming to a close. The final meeting is on Oct. 7, 5;30-8:30 pm at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center. The CAC will determine its final recommendations at this meeting. Project staff will then write a draft plan and release it for public comment, followed by Board review.

The public is encouraged to attend this upcoming meeting, which includes a light dinner and self-directed children’s activities.

Community Advisory Committee Meeting #16

Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, 5:30-8:30 pm (note the longer duration than previous meetings)

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S

Agenda Focus

  • Mueller Park
  • Kenwood Park
  • The Parade
  • Fields/Diamonds/Ice Balance (Kenny, Armatage, Pershing, Linden Hills)
  • Lyndale Farmstead Park
  • Smith Triangle
  • Guiding Principles
  • Whittier, Clinton Field and Washburn Fair Oaks Parks (if time allows)

CAC Meeting #15 Recap

Members of the CAC met publicly on Sept. 17 at Whittier Recreation Center. Here’s what happened:

  • The CAC voted to support the Aug. 9, 2019 updated concept for The Mall with several caveats:
    • Make a good effort to account for resident parking elsewhere in the neighborhood through collaboration or relocation
    • Move the pathway to one side and add forested green space
    • Preserve through-alleys
    • Preserve and protect tree canopy
    • Although sand volleyball was originally included in the Aug. 9 updated concept, it was not a supported amenity during the discussion
  • The CAC discussed the combined layout of concepts for Kenny, Armatage, Pershing, and Linden Hills, which came out of the Fields/Diamonds/Ice Balance Subcommittee meetings.
    • A CAC member introduced a new layout idea
    • The CAC did not vote in favor of holding an additional subcommittee meeting before Oct. 7
    • The CAC also did not vote in favor of supporting the Aug. 14 subcommittee’s combined layout for all 4 parks
    • An agreement was not reached, so discussion will continue at the Oct. 7 CAC meeting.
  • The CAC voted to support the May 30 text on Potential Parks and Search Areas with the addition of several edits regarding Linden Hills Trolley Path.
  • The CAC voted to support the July 25 updated concept for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
  • Public comment was taken on Mueller Park and the CAC began but did not complete discussion, so it will continue at the beginning of the Oct. 7 CAC meeting.
  • The CAC voted to pull three parks from consensus and reopen the discussion if time allows at the Oct. 7 CAC meeting:
    • Whittier Park – artificial turf
    • Washburn Fair Oaks and Clinton Field Parks – dog park location

Park Concepts

Find the revised concepts for your favorite parks and let us know what you think using the links below:

Central Parks Group [PDF]

Parks: Bryant Square, Loon Lake Trolley Path, Lyndale Farmstead, Lyndale School Pool, Painter, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Parkways: Kings Highway

Northeastern Parks Group [PDF]

Parks: 28th Street Tot Lot, Clinton Field, Mueller, Stevens Square, Washburn Fair Oaks, Whittier

Northern Parks Group [PDF]

Parks: Fremont Triangle, Kenwood, Levin Triangle, Smith Triangle, The Mall, The Parade, Thomas Lowry, Vineland Triangle
Parkways: Kenwood

Southeastern Parks Group [PDF]

Parks: Elmwood Triangle, Fuller, Gladstone Triangle, Kenny, Rustic Lodge Triangle, Windom South

Southwestern Parks Group [PDF]

Parks: Armatage, Lynnhurst, Penn Model Village Triangle, Pershing Field, Washburn Avenue Tot Lot

Lynnhurst Focus Area – Subcommittee-Recommended Design

Western Parks Group [PDF]

Parks: Alcott Triangle, Chowen Triangle, Dell, Linden Hills, Park Siding, Reserve Block 40, St. Louis Triangle, Waveland Triangle, West End Triangle
Parkways: Linden Hills Boulevard

Potential Parks and Trails [PDF]

Community members have proposed several locations for potential new parks or trails in Southwest Minneapolis.

Comment on Revised Park Design Concepts


This project does not include any recreation centers or areas classified as regional parkland, which include: Bde Maka Ska Park, Beard’s Plaisance, Brownie Park, Cedar Lake Park, Cedar Lake Regional Trail, Kenilworth Regional Trail, Lake Harriet Park, Lake of the Isles Park, Lyndale Park, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Minnehaha Parkway Regional Trail, Morrison Park (home of Minneapolis Institute of Art), Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Soo Line Community Garden and William Berry Park.

Many of those areas have already have long-term plans as part of the Bde Maka Ska-Harriet Master Plan, which was approved by MPRB Commissioners on May 3, 2017.