Southwest Parks Plan Update: Final two CAC meetings set; Parade Subcommittee recap

Posted on 13 September, 2019

Sept. 17: CAC Meeting #15 at Whittier Recreation Center

Oct. 7: CAC Meeting #16 at MLK 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. Two final meetings have been scheduled during which the CAC will determine its final recommendations. Project staff will then write a draft plan and release it for public comment, followed by Board review.

The public is encouraged to attend these upcoming meetings, which include a light dinner and self-directed children’s activities:

Community Advisory Committee Meeting #15

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019, 5:30-8:30 pm (note the longer duration than previous meetings)
Whittier Recreation Center, 425 W 26th St.

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

Here’s a flyer to share with fellow Southwest Minneapolis neighborhood park users:

Southwest Parks Plan Meeting Flyer

Parade Subcommittee Meeting #2 Recap

The subcommittee met for the second time on Sept. 11, 2019. Here’s what happened:

  • The subcommittee determined a field house is preferred over a dome structure and recommended a cost/benefit analysis at the time of detailed design.
  • Voted to support Parade Park Concept B from the initial round of park concepts with the following alterations:
    • Create a “parking zone” in the area of #10, the details of which (structure, surface, number of levels, drop offs, use of roof surface) will be determined during detailed design.
    • Site circulation should pass through the “parking zone” as a park road connection between building and fields. This area will be designed differently than a standard road.
    • Maintenance yard vehicles can move through the “zone” to access Dunwoody Blvd. Ice arena users can access via Kenwood Parkway. Connection remains between Dunwoody Boulevard and Kenwood Parkway.
  • Subcommittee also supports including these elements from the revised Parade Park concept:
    • Bike skills trail in western area of park
    • Drop off area near baseball diamond
    • Gathering space near baseball diamond
    • Additional ice sheet and 6 curling lanes
    • Addition of a weight room and dedicated ice hockey locker rooms
  • Subcommittee asked that staff bring an updated drawing to CAC Meeting #15 for review.

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.