Southwest Parks Plan Update: Next meeting August 8, recap from previous meeting

Posted on 1 August, 2019

Next CAC meeting is Thursday, August 8, 6-8 pm at Lynnhurst Recreation Center, additional meetings scheduled August 13 and 19

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.

CAC Meeting #12 Recap

The CAC met for the 12th time on July 25. Here’s what happened:

  • The CAC voted to move the Lynnhurst Park concept to consensus.
  • Reviewed suggested changes to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park concept and asked that staff return with a recommendation at the next meeting Aug 8.
    • Suggestions include addition of a bike playground; slight reconfiguration of basketball, ball diamond, amphitheater, and pollinator gardens; and inclusion of seating and art in entry gardens.
  • Reviewed suggested changes to The Mall concept and asked that staff do additional public notification and report back at the next meeting Aug 8.
    • Suggestions include removal of parking and addition of a field and volleyball.
  • Voted to reopen discussion on Mueller Park including basketball, the plaza, the arbor, and nature play. The CAC agreed to move discussion of Mueller to the end of the list of parks remaining for discussion.
  • Reviewed suggested changes to Lyndale Farmstead and asked that staff do additional public notification and report back on historic details at the next meeting Aug 8.
    • Suggestions include adding a bike skills course and backstop; reconfiguring basketball, and a community garden.

Meeting Schedule

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

Agenda

We will work through this list at each CAC meeting until completed.

  • Discuss parks in the “Warrants Further Discussion” category in this order: Washburn Fair Oaks, Waveland Triangle, Kenwood, Kenwood Parkway, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., The Mall, Lyndale Farmstead, Kenny, Armatage, Pershing, Linden Hills, The Parade, Mueller
  • Discuss Proposed Parks together as one group: East Calhoun Gateway Area, 31st Street Median, West Calhoun Bus Layover, Washburn Water Tower, Garfield Lot, Linden Hills Trolley Path, and three park search areas in West Calhoun, around Stevens Square, and around Windom South
  • Discuss outcome of fields/diamonds subcommittee meetings
  • Discuss Guiding Principles
  • Final Recommendation vote

CAC Meeting #13

Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, 6-8 pm
Lynnhurst Recreation Center, 1345 W Minnehaha Parkway

Parade Park Subcommittee Meeting #1

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 6-8 pm
Kenwood Community Center, 2101 W Franklin Ave.

CAC Meeting #14

Monday, Aug. 19, 2019, 6-8 pm
Kenwood Community Center, 2101 W Franklin Ave.

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.