Hello! * Haú! * Boozhoo! * ¡Hola!

My name is Jason Garcia.

I’m asking for your support to be the next Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board Commissioner in District 4.

I’m a long-time resident of Minneapolis, a parent of an MPS graduate, and a firm believer that our parks system plays a vital role in the health and well-being of all our neighbors across the city. I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact access to active, living parks can have. When I was younger, my friends and I would often meet in Kenwood Park to play kickball or frisbee. As a member of the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association (LHENA) board, I saw Mueller Park activated for many family-friendly activities for residents of the Wedge. Throughout the summer of 2022, I helped plan and organize a series of community barbecues in parks across Minneapolis to help bring people together after long isolation in the early Covid pandemic. 

In my career, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside many visionaries doing work on improving food systems and food access, as well as connecting people with the natural world that can be so difficult to engage with in a major city. I currently work with local farmers, many of whom are immigrants and BIPOC growers, to help them find markets and sell produce to help support schools, hunger relief, and neighborhood grocery stores. Food insecurity is a major problem for many of our neighbors, and I’m proud to work toward a sustainable solution.

As a volunteer, I’ve stood with Planned Parenthood patients and practitioners as a clinic escort, I’ve served on the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association board, and I’ve gathered traditional medicines for Indigenous community members who don’t have access to them on their own. I’ve learned how important it is to have a support system to help keep our community safe and thriving.

I want to use my life experiences and perspectives to support the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board’s mission to permanently preserve, protect, maintain, improve, and enhance its natural resources, parkland, and recreational opportunities for current and future generations. As the population of Minneapolis continues to grow, we need to ensure these important parts of our city not only remain, but thrive.

I hope you’ll join me and help us make that vision a reality!

In community,