My vision for Minneapolis Parks
Parks For The People
Equitable parks that work for everyone
As residents of Minneapolis, we pride ourselves on diversity and welcoming people of all backgrounds. Our urban park system should reflect that by offering engaging park facilities, programming, and events to everyone- from our children to our elders.
Multimodal accessibility to active parks for citizens and visitors
Minneapolis is a dynamic city that attracts people from all over the state, region, and country. Our parks draw not only people who live here, but those who are experiencing Minneapolis for the first time. By having multimodal access to our parks and parkways, we can continue to make our parks a world-class attraction.
Honor the people who make our parks work
Our award-winning parks represent both beautiful natural areas found in Minneapolis and the labor of hundreds of dedicated park workers. By treating our workers fairly and making parks jobs desirable careers, we can continue our legacy of thriving, active parks throughout the city.
Stewardship of Vital Resources
Maintain our park system for future generations
While we look to the past for inspiration, we also need to hold the future in our hearts and minds as we work to preserve our parkland, parkways, and urban tree canopy for the people who will follow us. By continuing to make important investments in park infrastructure, we can keep the benefits of our award-winning park system for years to come.
Well-maintained parks are safe parks
Routine maintenance and upkeep require adequate time and resources for park staff. Keeping our park assets well-lit, making sure paths and trails are smooth and even to prevent injury, and keeping facilities clean and operating makes for welcoming park spaces. Welcoming parks and trails mean activated spaces and communities coming together in our neighborhood parks.
Parks Are a Link to Nature and Our Shared History
Connection to nature has a host of benefits
Studies show time in nature has positive impacts on cognition and mood, and feeling connected to nature in daily life can increase those benefits. By creating intentional spaces in our city for people to nurture that connection, we can markedly increase the quality of life for our citizens.
Many of our parks connect us to the history of Minneapolis
District 4 is home to gems such as Loring Park, the historic center of the LGBTQ+ community not only in Minneapolis, but for much of the Upper Midwest. Mill Ruins Park and West River Road retain our ties to the milling industry that helped build our city. The restaurant Owamni, by the Sioux Chef, is situated in a park building and shows us modern ways to honor the Indigenous people who have called this area home for millenia.
The name “Minneapolis” comes from the Dakhóta word for “water”. The Mississippi River and the Chain of Lakes are vital parts of our city’s past, present, and future. District 4 includes Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, and parkland along the Mississippi. The city has made historic investments in these areas to keep them healthy and ready for community use, and we will carry that legacy forward.