Kingfield Neighborhood Association

Public hearing on Southwest Parks Plan by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

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Hearing Date: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020 at 6:45 pm during the regular Board of Commissioners meeting.

The Southwest Service Area Master Plan, called the Southwest Parks Plan for short, includes long-term plans for 42 neighborhood parks, one regional feature, six potential parks, and four park search areas in Southwest Minneapolis. It sets a vision for the improvement, operation and management of all neighborhood parks in Southwest Minneapolis over the next 20-30 years. The plan was created after nearly two years of community-based engagement, planning and design with individuals, neighborhood groups and community organizations throughout Southwest Minneapolis.

Please note: The proposed Southwest Parks Plan will be published to the project page (minneapolisparks.org/sw) on Friday, Oct. 2, when the Board agenda is posted.  The public is encouraged to view the meeting from home and email comments on the plan to the Secretary to the Board at jringold@minneapolisparks.org before 3:30 pm on Oct. 7. Comments should be limited to approximately 300 words, which is similar to three minutes when they are read out loud by the Secretary at the Board meeting.The MPRB is adhering to social distancing recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic and all Board meetings are being held virtually.

If you prefer to speak in person, please call 612-230-6400 before 6 pm on Oct. 7 to sign up to speak at the meeting and be present in the Board Room at the Mary Merrill MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road by 6:45 pm. Although all commissioners will not be physically present, the Board Room is open to the public during Board meetings. Social distancing is encouraged.

After the hearing, the Planning Committee will consider approval of the Southwest Parks Plan. The full board could consider final approval at either its Oct. 21 or Nov. 4 meeting.

Learn about the History of 35W; including opposition to the freeway, its impacts on communities of color, and concerns over equity and environmental justice.

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Please join MnDOT on Wednesday, August 19 from 6:30-7:30 to learn about the history of I-35W.  This interactive virtual event will share preliminary histories about opposition to the freeway, its impacts on communities of color, and concerns over equity and environmental justice. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and express interest in sharing their own perspectives and stories. This event is part of an ongoing partnership with Hennepin History Museum, the Heritage Studies and Public History Program at the University of Minnesota, and Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Click here for details. You can find out more about the project by visiting https://35w.heritage.dash.umn.edu/

Update and Actions to Take Regarding the MLK Park Encampment

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Thank you for your patience and care as our city and nation experience a housing crisis compounded by the recent COVID-19 global pandemic. The population of unhoused neighbors living in MLK Park encampments has grown 3x since June.

How can I help my unhoused neighbors? The best way you can help right now is to use your time and energy to advocate for dignified short, medium and long-term housing solutions in our city. We do not recommend individual citizens attempt direct engagement work with encampments. Those experiencing homelessness deserve social service solutions delivered by trained and trauma-informed providers. Please respect the autonomy of all encampments, including prioritizing your personal safety and boundaries. Consider a financial donation to trusted organizations serving our community: ZACAH, Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, The Link, and Park Avenue Center.

Housed neighbors stand in solidarity with unhoused neighbors prioritizing humanitarian aid, while acknowledging systems, events and health issues that can lead to short-term and chronic homelessness. Informal mutual aid efforts provide food and minimal ice to as many parks across the city as possible, this is not a sustainable solution. We demand our elected officials immediately address the current humanitarian housing crisis in Minneapolis. Please contact your elected officials, today! And then copy that email to Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz.

More information to be communicated through KFNA in the near future, stay tuned.

MLK Park Housing Advocates 

Southwest Parks Plan public comment period closes August 1

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The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) closed all recreation centers and program buildings on March 17 and they remain closed in response to COVID-19. Due the continued closure of all Southwest Minneapolis recreation centers, the Southwest Service Area Master Plan public comment period has been extended to August 1. 

Public comments continue to be collected online. View the draft Southwest Parks Plan and submit your comments using the links below. The plan and online survey are also posted on the project page – www.minneapolisparks.org/sw, as well as on the exteriors of all 13 recreation centers in Southwest Minneapolis. [Read more…]

What is one thing you are going to do to create the more equitable and just city that we all desire?

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“My commitment to a more just Minneapolis is working to ensure people don’t forget the importance of racial equity and the importance of this moment in time.  To that end I plan to be on the 38th street bridge every tuesday from 4:30-5:30 until the end of this year with banners and signs keeping my own commitment right in front of me and hopefully others as well.  Please join me. ”

–Becky Dankowski, KFNA Board Member

This week, KFNA Staff and Board of Directors have made commitments to one another to how we will, both as individuals and as an organization, create a more just Minneapolis.

We are calling on community members, to do the same and submit an audio recording of their commitments to action, over the following week, in response to the question above.

There are four ways for you to share your commitments:
1) Call and leave a message @ 612-234-1867
2) Record a “Voice Memo” on your phone and email it to messages@kingfield.org
3) Submit a written comment of (which will be read and recorded by a KFNA board member) to messages@kingfield.org
4) Send a written or voice message via the mobile Facebook messenger app to The Kingfield Neighborhood Association

Submission Length: Please keep your answers to 60 seconds or 200 words (if written)
Submission Deadline: Friday June 19th @ 9pm

Kingfield Restaurants

currently open for take-out
(more info available here)

  • Tap Society
  • Sunstreet Breads
  • Royal Grounds
  • Rincon 38
  • Revival
  • Patisserie 46
  • Nighthawks
  • The Lowbrow
  • Hola Arepa
  • Grand Cafe
  • Good Times Pizza
  • Five Watt Coffee
  • Young Man
  • Dave The Pie Guy
  • Curran's
  • Cocina Latina
  • Cafe Ena
  • Butter Bakery Cafe
  • Boludo Empanadas
  • Apoy