KFNA began planning for a bread oven last summer and has modified their lease agreement at the Kingfield Pleasant Community Garden to include the structure (pending design approval). Our goal is to design the oven this spring, get landlord approval based on the design, and construct the oven this summer.

If this project sounds interesting to you please complete a short survey so we better understand your interests, and backgrounds, and talents. The survey is found here.

If you are interested at helping to get this project off the ground please feel free to contact KFNA with any questions or attend this initial planning conversation. Please RSVP to info@kingfield.org if you plan on attending so we can be prepared for the correct number of attendees. Thank you!

Right now the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board [MPRB] is working to understand the best aspects of playground options 1A and 4 (view images here) and develop a revised design that can be embraced by the community. To help us better understand the community perspectives on the two options, individuals are being asked to complete a survey by March 26, 2014 at 11:59 pm.

The survey is designed to gather information related to critical design objectives of the play equipment, including how well it will hold the interest of users, it integrates the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. King and African American History theme into the design, and it meets the community’s playground needs.

Images can be viewed here and also at the park building. And the survey is available online here and at the park building as well

The Lowbrow has paired up with Finnegans and Full Cycle on the last Thursday of the month to let neighbors know about these great nonprofits and their missions!

Finnegans Inc., owns the beer brand and is a for profit S Corporation that pays the bills and salaries and then donates all the profits to the Finnegans Community Fund, a 501©3 non-profit. Over 98% of the funds that land in the Finnegans Community Fund are distributed to our non-profit partners to support hunger alleviation in each state where our product is sold. In Minnesota, profits go to support the Emergency Foodshelf Network’s Harvest for the Hungry program.

Full Cycle is a non-profit bicycle shop offering quality, refurbished, brand name bikes for sale. They also have a mission to connect with young people experiencing homelessness that are 16-23 years of age. Full Cycle offers six-month paid internships in the bike shop, free bikes by appointment, a youth specific food shelf, and access to Street Outreach workers that can provide an access to resources.

Drop into The Lowbrow this Thursday, meet representatives from both organizations, and Finnegans will even pour you one of their own, on the house, for sitting and chatting with them!

Gardeners who wanted a little help getting their garden started will want to register for the free Vegetable Gardening Basics 5-Class Course organized by KFNA and led by Hennepin County Master Gardeners at MLK Park, beginning April 1. Classes will all be held on Tuesday evenings at Martin Luther King Park, 4055 Nicollet. Don’t have the land to grow on this summer? Class will include a hands-on teaching garden at MLK Park so participants can actually assist in preparing the soil, planting the seeds, and if they choose to, continuing to care for the plants through harvest time! Optional preservation classes utilizing the produce will be offered in the fall as a stand-alone option.

More information and applications are now available here! The deadline for this class series has been extended to Friday March 28. Applications can be dropped off at 3754 Pleasant Ave. S #101 or emailed to info@kingfield.org.

“In the Garden” classes are also offered this Summer. It is the Second Year KFNA has partnered with Master Gardeners to offer a Gardening Class Series for Spanish Speakers! This six-part class will be led by University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners in Hennepin County and translated into Spanish by Kingfield neighbor Marianna Padilla. Call 612-547-6910 to register for “In the Garden.” The class will be held from 9 to 11 AM on the second Saturday of the month for six months: April 12, May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, and September 13 at Sabathani, 310 East 38th Street.

Dear Friends of King Park Little Kids Soccer--

The core of our King Park Little Kids Soccer Program is to have a cadre of "parent-coaches", trained in the teaching games, available for leading on any of 8 to 10 Saturdays from mid-June to mid-August. You don't have to be there all Saturdays, just the ones you are town. With approximately 15 parent-coaches total available, we have enough coaches available for any given session. Are you interested in supporting this program?

If so, Please send a note quickly to info@kingfield.org with a "Yes for King Park Summer Soccer” in the memo line and KFNA will get you more information directly from the Volunteer Coordinator of this program. The program provides a training session (maybe two different option days this spring) in the games by Sheila McGill, the University of St. Thomas Women's Soccer Coach, in late May or early June.

King Park is also interested in having the gym used for some informal youth soccer game time on weekends and/or some weekday evenings this spring. If this opportunity to get involved interests you please, again, contact KFNA at info@kingfield.org with "Yes for King Park Spring Soccer” in the memo line of the email.

Open Gym

• Children and Teens 9 - 17 years
• Monday through Friday, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• MLK Park

Burn off some steam in the gym at Martin Luther King Park. Basketball, dodge ball, or make up a game with your friends. Adult parent/ mentors allowed with their children, activepass registration required.

and

Night Owls

• Youth and Teens 12 - 18 years
• Every Friday, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
• MLK Park

Night Owls is an Extended Hours Program on Friday nights from 8-11pm. Activities include life skills, sports, open gym, computer lab, movies and a variety of table, video and board games. Participants must be inside the ML King facility by 9:00pm (no admittance after 9:00pm - no exceptions) and there is no re-entry after 9:00pm. All youth and teens must have their Active Pass Card to participate. Gym users must wear gym attire. Curfews will be enforced: 12-14 years of age must leave for home no later than 10:30pm.